New Delhi

Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has announced that footballer Ahmad Abu al-Atta was killed along with his family in an airstrike by Israel, reported news agency Reuters.

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Abu al-Atta, who played for Gaza strip team Al-Ahly Gaza was victim of an airstrike in Gaza City along with his wife Ruba Esmael Abu al-Atta, a medical professional, and their two children. PFA announced  on Saturday (June 22) but did not mention the date of the airstrike.

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Reuters report, citing local media, mentioned that the strike which claimed life of Abu al-Atta took place on Friday (June 21).

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Last week, PFA had announced the death of international referee as a result of Gaza war.

"International referee Hani Tawfiq Musamh died as a result of his wounds sustained as a result of the ongoing occupation aggression against the Gaza Strip," read the PFA statement released on June 17.

"Musamah was seriously injured at the beginning of last May, after being targeted by occupation forces’ fire in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza strip," it added.

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Palestinian Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub in a statement last month said that more than 300 athletes, referees and sports officials have been killed so far since the start of Gaza war. He also noted that all sports facilities in Gaza have turned into rubble due to ongoing conflict.

The notable names among the sports personalities who have died are soccer player Mohammed Barakat and FIFA International Assistant Referee Mohammed Khattab.

According to Gaza health ministry, Palestine so far has seen death of nearly 37,598 people, while 86,032 have been injured in the ongoing war.

The conflict started on October 7 last year after Israel retaliated in response to Palestine-based militant group Hamas' attack on Israel. Around 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas against which Israel started a full-scale military offensive.

(With agency inputs)