A midfielder for third division side Turmus Aya was killed on Wednesday, June 21st in the latest incidents of settler violence in the Occupied West Bank. The PFA confirmed the player’s death on their official Facebook page with an image of his registration card.
Omar Abu Qatin was a speedy winger for his hometown club. The 25 year old leaves behind a wife and two children after being shot in the chest outside his home. He worked as an electrician for the municipality suiting up for Turmus Ayya on the weekends.
Although the violence this week has been spearheaded by vigilante attacks conducted by extremist settlers. The Associated Press reported that Abu Qatin was shot and killed by the IDF who routinely show up to the scene of vigilante attacks, not to stop them- but to support them.
Mayor Lafi Adeeb said that “The attacks intensified in the past hour even after the army came,” he said. At least eight Palestinians were hurt during the ensuing chaos, which the IDF claimed it tried to disperse by firing tear gas and rubber bullets.
“He was just standing there, innocent, he is such a kindhearted kid. He had no stones, he was totally unarmed, he was at least half a mile (one kilometer) away from the military,” said Khamis Jbara, his neighbor. “He works from 6am to 6pm. He is a peaceful man.”
Omar Abu Qatin’s murder at the hands of Israeli forces is the latest round of attacks on Palestinian football. The cup final in March was interrupted when forces fired teargas into the stands of Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium, last December IDF forces shot and killed Ahmed Daraghmeh– the fourth top scorer in the WBPL at the time.
During the War on Gaza in May 2021 Beit Hanoun midfielder Muath Al-Zaaneen was killed by an Israeli airstrike. The assault also destroyed the homes of national team players Mohammed Saleh and Mohammed Balah.
FIFA and the FIFPRO have yet to issue comment on Omar Abu Qatin’s murder.
