Israeli strike kills World Cup screening organiser in Gaza just before kickoff

Lead

An Israeli strike on Gaza just before the kickoff of the Egypt-Argentina World Cup match killed a top Palestinian aid official who had helped organize public screenings of the game, turning a moment of celebration into a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.

Mohamed al-Wahidi, 57, director of public relations for the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, was killed along with three others when the blast hit a car in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City at dusk on Tuesday, according to local health officials. The strike came about an hour before the match, which al-Wahidi had worked to make accessible to people in Gaza City.

Coverage Comparison

The strike was reported by several international news outlets, including Al Jazeera, Dawn, The Guardian, and The Hindu. While the central facts are consistent across the reports, some details vary, such as the exact death toll since the ceasefire and the number of casualties in the strike itself.

Al Jazeera and Dawn reported that the strike killed al-Wahidi and three others, including two brothers aged 10 and 8. The Guardian and The Hindu similarly reported the deaths of two brothers, Fari and Hamza al-Deri, and the driver, Ahmed Daghmush, though they differed on the driver's name and age, with The Guardian reporting him as Ahmed Jehad Rajab Doghmosh, 30, and The Hindu reporting him as Ahmed Daghmush, 33.

BBC, however, focused on the broader context of the game itself, noting that hundreds of football fans in Gaza watched the Argentina v Egypt match in Nuseirat. The BBC article mentioned that the game ended 3-2 with Argentina advancing to the quarter-finals, without detailing the strike.

Key Claims

• Israeli military statement: The Israeli military said al-Wahidi was not the intended target of the strike. According to reports, the military said it was aiming for a Hamas militant, and that it was checking whether Daghmush was the target. Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, said Daghmush was a taxi driver without any known links to militant groups.

• Funeral and community response: Palestinians turned out in large numbers to pay respects to al-Wahidi, who was described as a respected community elder. The Egyptian Relief Committee said he was among the first to help clear rubble, reopen roads, and build camps for displaced families. His son, Fawaz, told Reuters that al-Wahidi worked hard to bring some entertainment to the people in Gaza, particularly to the displaced and those in shelters.

• Death toll since ceasefire: Sources disagreed on the death toll since the ceasefire took effect. Al Jazeera reported that at least 1,092 Palestinians have been killed, while Dawn reported at least 1,084. The Hindu reported at least 1,027 people, including 258 children, and The Guardian said at least 1,000 had been killed since the US-brokered ceasefire was declared in October.

• Overall death toll: Multiple sources reported that the Palestinian death toll since the war started in October 2023 is over 73,000.

• UN commission: The Guardian reported that a UN independent commission of enquiry said Palestinian children were deliberately targeted and killed by Israel during the war.

• World Cup game: The Argentina-Egypt game, which al-Wahidi had helped make accessible, ended 3-2 with Argentina advancing to the quarter-finals. Hundreds of fans watched the match among the ruins of shattered buildings in Nuseirat, with many waving flags for Egypt.

Perspectives

• Israeli military: The Israeli military said the strike was aimed at a Hamas militant, not al-Wahidi, and that it was checking whether Daghmush was the target.

• Palestinian and medical sources: Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, reported that the strike killed al-Wahidi and three others, including two brothers and a taxi driver with no militant links. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights identified the fourth victim as Ahmed Jehad Rajab Doghmosh, aged 30, who was in the taxi.

• Family and aid committee: The family of al-Wahidi described him as a respected community elder who worked to resolve disputes and feed those in need. The Egyptian Relief Committee said he was a senior member and had organized the public screenings of World Cup matches across Gaza.