Mohammed Barakat has been killed in an Israeli bombing of his apartment in Khan Younis during the ongoing war in Gaza, landing another heart-wrenching blow on the football community.
The Palestinian late footballer was struck by Israeli bombs in his family home on Monday, March 11, 2024 - the first day of fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Barakat is Palestine's first player to score a century of career goals and one of its top goal-scorers.
Mohammed Barakat made 3 appearances for Palestine, scoring no goal and providing no assist in all competitions.
The 39-year-old played for Al-Wehdat, Al-Shoalah, and Ahly Gaza football club in his active football career.
Barakat scored 114 goals and was known as “the legend of Khan Younis” during his long-term stint with the Khan Younis Youth Club, which he captained.
The forward was also part of a generation of two-way footballing sides – playing both beach and pitch football.
Mohammed Barakat kept exuding quality when it mattered most, and his last goal for the team came in a 1-1 draw with Shujayea Club at Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City on August 18, 2023.
The goal came in the second match week of the Palestinian Premier League, with the attacker's death being called a “huge loss for Palestinian football” by Khalid Abu-Habel, a footballer for a local club in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, hours after Barakat's demise, the footballer said:
“He was quick and clever. A top, top goal scorer. Off the pitch, he was kind and friendly. A beloved friend of all.”
Abu-Habel, who also doubles as a doctor at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, stressed that the Gaza football community has “lost a lot” during the ongoing war.
He said: “How many should we lose more? The sports community in Gaza is simply collapsing.
“I am too angry. He is a football icon. Sport in Gaza has lost a lot during the war.”
During the opening month of the unfortunate war, which started on October 7, 2024, Khalil Jadallah, a Palestinian football commentator and analyst, prepared a starting XI of Palestinian players who have died due to the continuing war between Israel and Palestine.
Speaking with Al Jazeera five months ago, the football commentator said: “It is difficult to know exactly how many have died during this war because of the sheer amount of death.”
Alongside those that have been confirmed dead are athletes and administrators from various sports.
Some of whom include; basketball player for Al-Breij, Bassim al-Nabahin, 27; footballer Rashid Dabbour, 28, who played for Al-Ahli Beit Hanoon; and Ahmad Awad, 21, who featured for Palestine’s national football team for dwarfism.
The sporting community in the occupied West Bank area of Palestine have been hit badly as tensions have spiked there.
Mohammed Maree Sawafta, a nineteen-year-old midfielder playing for Markaz Balata was killed by Palestinian Authority security forces during a protest in his hometown of Tubas near Nablus on October 27, 2023.
Possibly the biggest loss has been the killing of Hani Al-Masdar, one of Palestine’s greatest footballers and a manager of the Olympic team in January 2024.
Al-Masdar was struck by shrapnel from a missile that landed close to his home in central Gaza.
During the Asian Cup 2023 played in January and February 2024, the Palestinian national team players cut a visibly emotional countenance when they picked up a historic victory over Hong Kong in the group stage and qualified for the second phase of the tournament.
During an interview, Mahmoud Wadi, a forward of Palestine touched on the struggles of putting on his best performance on the turf while the war continued to sprawl in his country.
The 29-year-old explained how players, particularly those from Gaza, spent their days and nights anxiously waiting for news from home.
He even shared a true life story, revealing how his brother was unavailable for hours and no one could contact him due to a communication blackout.
The information left him very anxious during those 10 hours until he got feedback from his brother.
Mahmoud Wadi said: “One morning, my brother disappeared. No one in my family knew anything due to a communication blackout. I felt very anxious during those 10 hours until I heard from him.
“This is our situation: A constant feeling of anxiety and unimaginable conditions. It’s indescribable not knowing where your loved ones are, feeling helpless and unable to do anything. All you can do is pray. Every second of our lives is a test.”
The Palestinian late footballer was struck by Israeli bombs in his family home on Monday, March 11, 2024 - the first day of fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Barakat is Palestine's first player to score a century of career goals and one of its top goal-scorers.
Mohammed Barakat made 3 appearances for Palestine, scoring no goal and providing no assist in all competitions.
The 39-year-old played for Al-Wehdat, Al-Shoalah, and Ahly Gaza football club in his active football career.
Barakat scored 114 goals and was known as “the legend of Khan Younis” during his long-term stint with the Khan Younis Youth Club, which he captained.
The forward was also part of a generation of two-way footballing sides – playing both beach and pitch football.
Mohammed Barakat kept exuding quality when it mattered most, and his last goal for the team came in a 1-1 draw with Shujayea Club at Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City on August 18, 2023.
The goal came in the second match week of the Palestinian Premier League, with the attacker's death being called a “huge loss for Palestinian football” by Khalid Abu-Habel, a footballer for a local club in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, hours after Barakat's demise, the footballer said:
“He was quick and clever. A top, top goal scorer. Off the pitch, he was kind and friendly. A beloved friend of all.”
Abu-Habel, who also doubles as a doctor at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, stressed that the Gaza football community has “lost a lot” during the ongoing war.
He said: “How many should we lose more? The sports community in Gaza is simply collapsing.
“I am too angry. He is a football icon. Sport in Gaza has lost a lot during the war.”
During the opening month of the unfortunate war, which started on October 7, 2024, Khalil Jadallah, a Palestinian football commentator and analyst, prepared a starting XI of Palestinian players who have died due to the continuing war between Israel and Palestine.
Speaking with Al Jazeera five months ago, the football commentator said: “It is difficult to know exactly how many have died during this war because of the sheer amount of death.”
Alongside those that have been confirmed dead are athletes and administrators from various sports.
Some of whom include; basketball player for Al-Breij, Bassim al-Nabahin, 27; footballer Rashid Dabbour, 28, who played for Al-Ahli Beit Hanoon; and Ahmad Awad, 21, who featured for Palestine’s national football team for dwarfism.
The sporting community in the occupied West Bank area of Palestine have been hit badly as tensions have spiked there.
Mohammed Maree Sawafta, a nineteen-year-old midfielder playing for Markaz Balata was killed by Palestinian Authority security forces during a protest in his hometown of Tubas near Nablus on October 27, 2023.
Possibly the biggest loss has been the killing of Hani Al-Masdar, one of Palestine’s greatest footballers and a manager of the Olympic team in January 2024.
Al-Masdar was struck by shrapnel from a missile that landed close to his home in central Gaza.
During the Asian Cup 2023 played in January and February 2024, the Palestinian national team players cut a visibly emotional countenance when they picked up a historic victory over Hong Kong in the group stage and qualified for the second phase of the tournament.
During an interview, Mahmoud Wadi, a forward of Palestine touched on the struggles of putting on his best performance on the turf while the war continued to sprawl in his country.
The 29-year-old explained how players, particularly those from Gaza, spent their days and nights anxiously waiting for news from home.
He even shared a true life story, revealing how his brother was unavailable for hours and no one could contact him due to a communication blackout.
The information left him very anxious during those 10 hours until he got feedback from his brother.
Mahmoud Wadi said: “One morning, my brother disappeared. No one in my family knew anything due to a communication blackout. I felt very anxious during those 10 hours until I heard from him.
“This is our situation: A constant feeling of anxiety and unimaginable conditions. It’s indescribable not knowing where your loved ones are, feeling helpless and unable to do anything. All you can do is pray. Every second of our lives is a test.”