An Israeli strike killed a Gaza aid worker who had organized World Cup screenings across the territory on Tuesday evening. The attack also killed two children and a driver, adding to the civilian toll recorded since October’s ceasefire took effect.
Strike hits car in Gaza City before kickoff
The bomb struck a vehicle in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City at dusk, just before the Egypt versus Argentina World Cup match began. Mohamed al Wahidi, head of public relations for the Egyptian Committee in Gaza, died in the blast alongside two young brothers and the car’s driver.
An Israeli air strike killed a beloved Palestinian aid official on July 7, just moments before the kickoff of a World Cup match he had worked to screen for displaced families.
Mohamed Fawaz Al-Wahidi, the public relations director for the Egyptian Relief Committee and head of… pic.twitter.com/VuCDwHtcbX
— TRT World (@trtworld) July 8, 2026
Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, confirmed the hospital received four bodies from the strike. Health officials identified the children as 10 year old Hamza al Deri and his 8 year old brother Fari, and the driver as 33 year old Ahmed Daghmush.
The Egyptian Committee serves as the relief arm of the Egyptian government, delivering food, shelter, and other support to Palestinians in Gaza. It had organized public screens across the territory so residents could watch World Cup matches together.
Public screenings gave Gaza aid worker’s community a break from war
The screenings had offered residents a brief pause from years of war, loss, and destruction. Egypt’s national team, coached by Hossam Hassan, drew a large following in Gaza after Hassan repeatedly voiced support for Palestinians during the tournament.
“If a person anywhere in the world does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they have lost part of their humanity.”
Hassan made the remark during a briefing ahead of the Argentina match. He had previously waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch following an earlier win.
Residents in Gaza reacted with grief and frustration following al Wahidi’s death. Similarly, aid groups have reported continued strikes since the truce took hold in October, even as relief agencies work to restore basic services in the territory.
“This is what Israel is good at destroying every moment of joy and happiness.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have died since the war began in October 2023. Health authorities say at least 1,070 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began, with women and children making up about half of all fatalities.
Recovery efforts have continued in parallel with the ongoing strikes, as international teams work to repair Gaza infrastructure damaged during the war. Aid organizations say the loss of personnel like al Wahidi complicates efforts to deliver both material and emotional support to affected communities.