The Israeli army on Wednesday published a list of 12 Palestinians killed by its fire during the war in Gaza, including 11 football players and a referee accredited by the International Football Federation (FIFA), saying they belonged to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.

A Palestinian Football Federation official in the Strip rejected these accusations.

Agence France-Presse was unable to independently verify the army's claims. An immediate response from Hamas and Islamic Jihad was not available.

The army said in a statement that publishing this list aimed to refute 'false claims' that it had 'deliberately targeted innocent Palestinian football players throughout the war.'

It said that those who had been 'portrayed as innocent athletes and civilians' were 'terrorist operatives in the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad,' and that some held leadership positions while others played combat roles.

Among the names listed was Mohammed Sami Khattab, whom the army said was an assistant international referee accredited by FIFA.

The statement elaborated: 'Mohammed Sami Mohammed Khattab was portrayed as an innocent football player, but he was a terrorist in the Central Camps Brigade of Islamic Jihad.'

The army said at least two of those whose names it published participated in the October 7, 2023 attack, which sparked the war in the Strip. A Palestinian Football Federation official in Gaza denied the army's accusations.

The official, who requested anonymity, said: 'Israel is trying to cover up its crimes by killing football players, coaches, referees, and administrators in football clubs with false accusations.'

He added: 'Most of the names mentioned in the statement were killed in Israeli bombings and raids in their homes or tents, some along with their families.'