Muhannad al-Lili, Palestinian footballer, dies in Israeli airstrike on Gaza
According to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and Middle East Eye, an Israeli drone launched a missile that hit al-Lili's bedroom on the third floor of the building. He suffered major head trauma and internal bleeding and died after several days in critical condition.
Al-Lili played for Khadamat al-Maghazi, a club based in central Gaza. He rose through its youth system, later helping the senior team qualify for the Palestinian Premier League in 2016–17.
He went on to play for Shabab Jabalia, where he was part of the squad that finished second in the 2018–19 season. A ligament injury briefly stalled his career at Gaza Sports Club, but he returned to Khadamat al-Maghazi and remained active until his death.
The PFA says he is the 265th footballer to be killed during the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Sports journalist Leyla Hameed places the number higher—over 430 players, she says, have died since the escalation began.
Muhannad al-Lili, a footballer for Nadi Khadamat al-Maghazi, has died from injuries he sustained when Israel bombed his family's home in the Maghazi refugee camp, Gaza.
He's the 439th player killed.
Human dignity should not be confined to one side of a line on a map. pic.twitter.com/ToT3TAumqL — Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) July 3, 2025
Al-Lili had reportedly planned to reunite with his wife, who left Gaza for Norway before the conflict intensified. Their son was born abroad during the war, but al-Lili was unable to leave Gaza and never met the child.
Images from his recent wedding circulated widely on social media after news of his death broke.
Tributes poured in from across Gaza's sports community. 'Every day we bid farewell to a new athlete. We could be the next target,' wrote fellow footballer Mohammad al-Sharif.
Every day we bid farewell to a new athlete.💔.
We could be the next target.
Our colleague, Muhannad Al-Laili, a player for the Al-Maghazi Services Club, succumbed to his wounds after an Israeli airstrike on his family's home in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/pprsObIgQW — mohammad al sharif 🇵🇸 (@mohamd684083) July 3, 2025
Others pointed to what they called a double standard in global media coverage. 'A lot of people and sports outlets mourned Jota's death, which is tragic,' wrote journalist Abubaker Abed. 'But they've said nothing about hundreds of Palestinian footballers killed in Gaza. Racism and hypocrisy at their peak.'
On the left is Palestinian striker Mohannad Al-Lilli killed by Israel: Barely few from the sports world cared and paid him tribute.
On the right is Liverpool's forward Diogo Jota who passed away following an accident: The entire world is in grief for him.
Racism is cancer. pic.twitter.com/PN9rMAINrp — Abubaker Abed (@AbubakerAbedW) July 3, 2025
Al-Lili's funeral was held quietly in the camp amid ongoing bombardment. His death adds to the growing toll of Gaza's sports infrastructure, which officials say has been severely damaged or destroyed in repeated attacks over the past nine months.
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