Palestinian Teen Footballer Dies After Being Shot in West Bank Clashes

Fadi Hamdallah al-Nassan, a 17-year-old member of the Palestinian national youth football team, died Saturday from a gunshot wound sustained during an Israeli settler attack on his village of al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces shot al-Nassan in the thigh on July 11 while settlers attacked the village.

His leg was amputated, and he died from the injuries, according to the Palestine Football Association.

Al-Nassan played for Al-Mughayyir Club. Dozens of mourners carried his body from the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to al-Mughayyir for burial on July 18. His father, Hamdallah al-Nassan, said his son ran toward the scene after hearing women and girls screaming.

“He went to the scene of the attack and was killed,” the father stated. His mother, Hanan al-Nassan, described him as a good student who loved playing football and was loved by everyone.

The Palestine Football Association stated that with al-Nassan’s death, the number of martyrs from the Palestinian sports movement since October 7, 2023, has risen to 1,013, including 568 from the Palestinian football family. On the same day, Israeli settlers and forces set fire to Palestinian property in two separate attacks, destroying olive trees near Ramallah and a family home in the town of Tal near Nablus, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

In Deir Qaddis west of Ramallah, Israeli soldiers fired live rounds and tear gas at farmers, starting fires that destroyed olive groves; civil defence crews were prevented from reaching the site. Israeli forces also raided homes in Yabad and Mithlon near Jenin.

The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967.