Aid Worker Organizing World Cup Viewings Killed in Israeli Strike in Gaza

Mohamed al-Wahidi, a 57-year-old Palestinian aid worker, was killed in an Israeli missile strike in the Sabra area of Gaza City on Tuesday evening. The strike occurred about an hour before the World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina, which al-Wahidi had been organizing public viewings for.

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The first moments after Mohamed's death were extremely difficult.

Al-Wahidi was traveling by taxi to one of these viewing events when the missile hit. In addition to al-Wahidi, three other people died in the attack: two young brothers, aged eight and ten, who were returning home from playing football, and a 30-year-old man named Ahmed Daghmush, who was near the impact site and struck by shrapnel. The taxi driver survived the incident.

His cousin, Abd Alkhaleq al-Wahidi, told The Guardian that the initial moments after Mohamed's death were "extremely difficult." He described al-Wahidi as someone known for helping people and supporting families in need. Al-Wahidi led the Egyptian Committee in Gaza and had dedicated years to aid and development projects in the region. Before the war, he worked as an English teacher.

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He was known for helping people and supporting families in need.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, stating that while they received information of al-Wahidi's death, he was not the target. An IDF spokesperson told the BBC that the intended target was an unnamed "terrorist" traveling in a vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF expressed regret for any civilian harm and pledged to minimize such damage. The spokesperson did not comment on whether the actual target was killed or injured. The report notes that at least 593 aid workers have died in Gaza between October 2023 and April 2026.

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The IDF regrets any harm to civilians and takes all possible measures to reduce such damage.