Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian International Runner While Seeking Aid In Gaza.

Khan Younis, Gaza — August 27, 2025 – Israeli occupation forces shot and killed Allam al-Amour, a 21-year-old Palestinian international runner, on Wednesday as he tried to collect food near an aid distribution point in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. His death adds to the growing list of civilians and prominent sports figures killed while seeking humanitarian relief amid the ongoing siege.

Family members told Anadolu Agency that al-Amour was “martyred by Israeli army gunfire near what are known as American aid centres” in the Al-Mawasi area. The Palestinian Athletics Federation confirmed the killing in a statement, lamenting:

“He never expected his end would come with a bullet to the head instead of carrying in his hand something to feed his family.”

A Rising Star Cut Down:

Allam al-Amour was one of Gaza’s brightest sporting talents. In March 2023, hewon bronze in the 3,000-meter youth race at the West Asia Clubs Athletics Championship in Doha, the tournament’s first edition, which brought together 250 athletes from 12 West Asian federations.

Friends describe him as humble, disciplined, and “obsessed with running.” His coach, speaking to WAFA, said:

“He had dreams of representing Palestine at the Olympics. He worked every day, even under the bombs, believing sports could give Gaza a different image.”

Those dreams ended in a desperate search for basic necessities, food for his family.

Pattern Of Targeting Athletes:

Al-Amour’s killing is not an isolated case. It follows the recent deaths of other iconic Palestinian athletes:

• Suleiman al-Obeid, nicknamed the “Palestinian Pelé”, was killed earlier this month while waiting in line for food aid. The 41-year-old football legend left behind his wife and five children.
• Mahmoud Rafeh Shaheen, a player for Al-Tuffah Sports Club, was also shot dead while queuing for aid. He was the second Al-Tuffah player killed in two weeks, after his teammate Ismail Abu Dan.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) reports that 774 sportspeople have been killed since October 2023, including footballers, athletics stars, referees, coaches, and scouts. At least 288 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Israeli bombardments, and the PFA headquarters in Gaza was reduced to rubble in an airstrike.

PFA president Jibril Rajoub condemned the killings, stating:

“This is not just about lives lost. It is an attempt to erase Palestinian identity, culture, and hope. Athletes were symbols of resilience, and now they are being executed at aid lines.”

Eyewitness Accounts: Aid Queues Turn Into Killing Zones.

Witnesses at the scene told TRT World that Israeli forces opened fire on people gathered for food parcels. One survivor, Abdullah, recounted:

“We were standing in line for flour. Suddenly, bullets started flying. People fell. Allam was ahead of me; he collapsed instantly, shot in the head.”

Similar incidents have occurred repeatedly. On August 24, at least four Palestinians were killed near Gaza City while trying to collect food aid. Aid convoys themselves have been targeted, and several foreign aid workers have also been killed.

Humanitarian Catastrophe: Gaza Starving Under Siege:

The killing of athletes highlights a broader tragedy. Hunger-driven queues at aid distribution points have become death traps. Since Israel launched its assault on Gaza in October 2023, more than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, with nearly 377,000 injured, according to Gaza health officials and UN data.

Over 2,000 civilians have died while waiting for or collecting aid, many of them children. Entire neighbourhoods lie in ruins, and famine conditions have forced families to eat animal feed, wild plants, and contaminated water.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Gaza is on the brink of “absolute famine”, with hundreds of thousands facing imminent death from starvation.

Does This Constitute A War Crime? Legal Experts Respond.

International law experts argue that the killing of civilians at aid centres, and specifically targeting high-profile individuals like athletes, may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Professor Leila Haddad, an expert in international humanitarian law, told Middle East Eye:

“Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, civilians seeking food and humanitarian relief enjoy absolute protection. The deliberate targeting of individuals in these conditions is a grave breach of international law.”

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 for crimes related to the Gaza war. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also hearing a case involving genocide against Israel.

Despite these proceedings, Israel continues its military operations and has shown no sign of halting attacks on aid seekers.

A Symbol Of Lost Dreams:

For Palestinians, Allam al-Amour’s death represents more than the killing of an athlete. It signifies the destruction of hope, identity, and the future of a generation. His final sprint was not on a racetrack but toward a sack of flour, a basic human necessity denied to millions in Gaza.

“When they kill athletes, they kill dreams,” said former teammate Yousef, speaking from a displaced persons’ shelter. “He wanted to bring medals to Palestine. Instead, he died trying to feed his family.”

By The Numbers: Gaza’s Sports Community Under Siege.

• 774 athletes and sports officials killed since October 2023
• 288 sports facilities destroyed, including stadiums and training grounds
• 322 members of the Palestinian Football Association among the dead

Key Question: How Many More Must Die Before The World Acts?

The death of Allam al-Amour, like that of Suleiman al-Obeid and hundreds of other athletes, underscores a chilling reality: Gaza’s war is not only killing people, it is killing culture, dreams, and the very possibility of normal life.