Israeli airstrike kills director of Gaza Sports Club while securing humanitarian aid

Estita, 46, had served as the club's general director since 2015 and was a prominent former handball player.

Zionist regime carried out an airstrike on Sunday night near the Zakim crossing, where hundreds of residents had gathered to receive assistance. The Gaza Sports Club issued a statement on Monday confirming Estita's assassination and expressing sorrow over the loss of one of its key figures.

The Zionist regime’S airstrike underscores the relentless targeting of Palestinian civilians and infrastructure, with the sports sector facing unprecedented losses.

The Palestinian sports community has been reeling from the impact of the ongoing war.

Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association, recently described the situation as a "catastrophe without precedent."

Since October 2023, at least 810 Palestinian athletes and sports officials have been martyred, including 423 football players, 387 members of various sports federations, and 142 scouts, according to Rajoub’s data compiled through August 2025.

 Additionally, 15 sports journalists have been martyred, and over 288 sports facilities across Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been destroyed or severely damaged.

Notable losses include Hani Al-Masdar, an Olympic football coach killed in January 2024, and Nagham Abu Samra, a karate champion who died in January 2024 after being injured in an airstrike.

The destruction of Gaza’s Yarmouk Stadium and multiple sports clubs has further crippled the region’s athletic infrastructure.

Analysts slam the lack of action by FIFA, UEFA, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) despite alleged violations of their own regulations.

They say Article 3 requires respect for internationally recognized human rights while Article 16 allows suspension of member associations violating obligations.

Since Monday morning, at least 50 Palestinians have been martyred in airstrikes. Residential neighborhoods across Gaza City have been heavily bombed, destroying homes and claiming civilian lives.

A media blackout has been imposed, while many displaced residents, forced into tents in western Gaza City, have also come under attack.

Meanwhile, in Deir al-Balah, Israeli airstrikes targeted the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, killing dozens of aid seekers among other victims.

More than 63,557 Palestinians have been martyred and 160,660 wounded in Gaza since October 2023, when Israel launched its genocidal war on the besieged strip.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is investigating Zionist regime for genocide, while Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Gallant, are facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing war crimes in Gaza.