The killing of Palestinian aid worker Mohammed al-Wahidi in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Tuesday has triggered an outpouring of grief across the Gaza Strip, where for many people he was one of the most recognisable humanitarian figures.
Within hours of his death, social media platforms were flooded with photographs and videos documenting his work, alongside hundreds of messages of condolence from people who said they had encountered him during aid distributions or while living in displacement camps.
An Israeli missile struck the taxi al-Wahidi was travelling in through the Sabra neighbourhood. He was killed along with three other people, including two brothers aged eight and 10 who were passing by and another man.
The Israeli military said it had struck a Hamas operative and was aware of claims that uninvolved individuals were killed in the strike.
Al-Wahidi, 65, was an English teacher before the war but became a senior official with the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, an Egypt-backed organisation that has played a prominent role in humanitarian relief efforts in the Palestinian territory during the war between Israel and Hamas.
An initiative aimed to offer families, particularly children, a brief escape from the realities of war. Egypt's matches attracted large crowds, reflecting the long-standing popularity of the team among many Palestinians in Gaza who have long shared cultural, emotional and political ties with their neighbours.
Videos of children and families gathering around giant screens among destroyed buildings spread widely online, offering rare scenes of celebration amid the conflict.
Al-Wahidi was killed only hours before one of those screenings, Egypt's last 16 match against Argentina, deepening the sense of loss among many Palestinians.
FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwylznzjk04o
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