Gaza Mourns Aid Official Known for World Cup Screen Initiative

Thousands of residents in Gaza turned out to pay their final respects to Mohammad al-Waheidi, a senior official with a major Egyptian aid organization in Palestine, who died in an Israeli airstrike earlier this week. Al-Waheidi was recognized for his efforts to provide giant screens for World Cup football broadcasts in the war-torn territory.

Medical officials reported that the strike on Tuesday, which occurred just before a match between Egypt and Argentina, killed al-Waheidi while he was in a taxi in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood. The attack also claimed the lives of three others, including two young siblings, aged eight and 10, who were pedestrians.

Al-Waheidi's initiative to show football matches on large screens had brought moments of joy to thousands of sports fans in the Palestinian territory, which has suffered greatly from a prolonged conflict. Like many Arabs, Palestinians had been enthusiastically supporting the Egyptian team before their elimination by Argentina.

"My father worked hard to bring a little entertainment to people, to the refugees, to us, and to anyone suffering in Gaza," said his son, Fawaz, speaking to Reuters by phone. "He tried to bring these matches close to the tents and shelters of those whose homes were destroyed."

When asked to comment on the deaths, the Israeli military stated they had targeted a Hamas fighter and were aware of claims that innocent civilians were also killed in the strike.

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My father worked hard to bring a little entertainment to people, to the refugees, to us, and to anyone suffering in Gaza. He tried to bring these matches close to the tents and shelters of those whose homes were destroyed.