Israel Kills Palestinian Runner Allam Al Amour

The Israeli army fatally shot Palestinian international runner Allam Al-Amour on Wednesday as he attempted to collect humanitarian aid in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. According to his family, Al-Amour “was martyred by Israeli army gunfire near what are known as American aid centres”.

Al-Amour was an accomplished young athlete, having secured a bronze medal in the 3,000-metre race at the inaugural West Asia Clubs Athletics Championship held in Doha in March 2023. The championship featured 250 athletes from 12 West Asian federations.

His killing comes just weeks after the death of famed Palestinian national footballer Suleiman al Obaid, who was also killed while seeking humanitarian aid under similar circumstances.

Al-Amour’s death further underscores the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict on Gaza’s sports community. Since the offensive began in October 2023, more than 800 athletes—including coaches and referees—have been killed.

The destruction extends beyond loss of life: entire sports facilities have been bombed, burned, or even repurposed as mass graves. According to reports, 90 percent of Gaza’s sports infrastructure has been destroyed.

Moreover, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) reports that among these casualties, 421 football players were killed in Gaza over the past 22 months, almost half of whom were children.

Nearly 63,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israel’s war since October 2023. The enclave now faces widespread famine, massive infrastructure collapse, and an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis.

In the face of immense suffering, the sports community’s grief for the loss of a promising athlete like Al-Amour is both deeply personal and emblematic of a broader tragedy. His death symbolizes not only the brutality of conflict but also the silencing of youthful ambition and hope.

This article was previously published on kuwaitmoments. To see the original article, click here