Key facts
- An Israeli strike killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, an aid official organizing World Cup screenings in Gaza.
- The strike also killed two children and two other men.
- The incident occurred in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood.
- The Israeli military stated the strike targeted a Hamas militant and al-Wahidi was not the intended target.
- The IDF is reviewing the incident and regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals.
An Israeli missile strike in Gaza City killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid official who had organized screenings of World Cup matches, along with three other individuals, including two young brothers. The strike occurred in the Sabra neighborhood about an hour before a planned screening of the Egypt-Argentina match.
Al-Wahidi, 57, was the director of the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, which is the relief arm of the Egyptian government. He had been involved in aid and development projects for years and had recently organized World Cup game viewings as a diversion amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that al-Wahidi was not the intended target and that the missile was aimed at a Hamas militant traveling in a vehicle. The IDF said it is aware of claims of civilian harm and is reviewing the incident, expressing regret for any harm to uninvolved individuals.
According to Gaza Health Ministry figures, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the October ceasefire, and the overall death toll in the Israel-Hamas war exceeds 73,000.