Gaza / Anadolu

For days, Palestinians have been sharing on social media photos and posts recalling the story of Palestinian Muhammad al-Wahidi, known to residents of the Gaza Strip for his relief work and supervision of World Cup match screenings for the displaced, before Israel killed him in a strike targeting a civilian vehicle in Gaza City.

His death brought back to the forefront his stances in serving the displaced and families, his contribution to relief activities, and his supervision of setting up screens to broadcast World Cup matches, in an attempt to give residents of the Strip a limited outlet amid war and destruction.

Among those posts, Palestinian Youssef Faris wrote on Facebook: 'Israeli army drones chased teacher Muhammad al-Wahidi twice; they bombed the first car he was in and he survived, then he got into another car and they bombed it and he was killed.'

Faris added, quoting a member of al-Wahidi's family without naming him, that he had sent Egyptian flags to Jabalia camp and participated in organizing public gatherings to watch the Egypt-Argentina match on the streets.

In his obituary, Nizar al-Wahidi, the victim's maternal cousin, wrote on his Facebook account: 'Muhammad Fawaz al-Wahidi, Abu Suhaib, 65 years old, his deeds did not save him from assassination.'

He added: 'His biggest crime was that he was the director of the office of mukhtars and notables in the Egyptian Committee for the Relief of the Displaced in Gaza, and that he was interested in setting up screens to broadcast the Egypt-Argentina match.'

After his death, Palestinians circulated photos of him during his relief activities and posts recalling his role in helping families and organizing World Cup screenings for the displaced, considering that these initiatives provided them with a space of joy amid war and destruction.

** Screens in displacement areas

Al-Wahidi's role emerged during the World Cup 2026, as he supervised the preparation of public squares and large screens to broadcast matches in displacement areas, despite power outages, destruction, and harsh living conditions in the Strip.

These screenings provided a limited outlet for families, displaced people, and children, who gathered in front of screens to follow the tournament's matches and temporarily escape the sounds of bombing and scenes of destruction.

Many displaced people live in crowded tents or damaged buildings, after Israel destroyed their homes during the genocidal war, and evacuation orders and repeated military operations forced them to leave their residential areas, in the absence of alternatives.

Al-Wahidi was supervising the preparation of screens and providing viewing squares for the public, before he was killed just before the Egypt-Argentina match in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian national team bid farewell to the tournament from the round of 16, after Argentina overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2.

** Relief work

The Egyptian Committee for the Relief of the People of the Gaza Strip said in an obituary statement, a copy of which was obtained by Anadolu correspondent, that al-Wahidi was the director of the office of mukhtars and notables at its headquarters in Gaza City.

The committee described al-Wahidi as one of the 'men of community reform,' a national and social figure known for seeking reconciliation, serving Palestinians, and promoting values of love, tolerance, and brotherhood.

By virtue of his position, al-Wahidi was responsible for coordinating communication with mukhtars, notables, and Palestinian families, and contributed to facilitating relief efforts and organizing community activities.

In the context of his community work, the Egyptian website Masrawy (private) quoted the committee's spokesperson, Muhammad Mansour, as saying that al-Wahidi was participating in a reconciliation session between neighbors just before the Israeli strike.

Mansour confirmed that al-Wahidi was the director of the office of mukhtars and notables at the committee's headquarters in Gaza City, denying what some platforms had circulated about him holding the position of committee director.

** Four killed, including two children

Regarding the details of the strike, Anadolu correspondent reported that an Israeli drone targeted on July 7 a civilian vehicle traveling in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City with a missile.

He added that the strike killed four Palestinians, including two brothers who were children, along with al-Wahidi and Ahmed Daghmash, who were inside the vehicle.

For its part, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights said in a statement that al-Wahidi was supervising the preparation of squares to show World Cup matches to the public, and that the targeting of the vehicle occurred just before the Egypt-Argentina match.

It added that al-Wahidi's killing raises 'serious concerns that the occupation is not limited to killing Palestinians, but also aims to eliminate any space for normal life or collective joy.'

The center considered that targeting individuals and initiatives that provide a limited outlet for the besieged population comes, in its assessment, within the context of a policy aimed at undermining aspects of civil life and keeping Palestinians under the weight of fear and deprivation.

** Funeral and condolences

After his death, hundreds of Palestinians participated in the funeral procession of al-Wahidi in Gaza City, with mourners carrying his body wrapped in the Palestinian and Egyptian flags.

Palestinians also flocked to his family home to offer condolences, including mukhtars, notables, and relief workers.

Member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, Ahmed Helles, offered condolences to al-Wahidi's family during his visit to the mourning tent in Gaza City after the funeral.

The funeral of al-Wahidi and the offering of condolences to his family took place amid the genocidal war that Israel has been waging in the Gaza Strip since October 8, 2023.

During this war, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 wounded, while destruction has affected about 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure in the Strip.