Palestinian international Mohammad Shalaan killed in Gaza

Mohammad Shalaan, former Palestinian basketball international nicknamed "The Earthquake", was killed in Gaza on Wednesday, August 20. The Palestinian Basketball Federation confirmed that the 40-year-old player was killed in Khan Younis while searching for food for his children.

By@Gabriel Pantel-Jouve

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Palestinian international Mohammad Shalaan killed in Gaza

Photo Credit : Palestinian Basketball Federation

Mohammad Shalaan, former Palestinian basketball international, was killed by the Israeli army in Khan Younis while searching for food for his children. The Palestinian Basketball Federation confirmed the information to Franceinfo sport.

« He was killed while searching for food for his children »: Palestinian basketball international Mohammad Shalaan died in Gaza https://t.co/H63umtaTEK

— franceinfo (@franceinfo) August 20, 2025

A Palestinian Basketball Icon

Palestinian international Mohammad Shalaan died at the age of 40. Born in 1985, he joined the national team in 2005 and played regularly until 2012. Nicknamed « The Earthquake » by his supporters, Shalaan had left his mark on Palestinian basketball despite difficult living conditions in Gaza, which limited his participation in international competitions.

« We confirm, with deep sadness, that Palestinian basketball star Mohammad Shalaan was killed by Israeli fire in Khan Younis while trying to get food for his children, » said Fares Awwad, Secretary General of the Palestinian Basketball Federation to franceinfo: sport.

A Family in Mourning and Distress

The player leaves behind six children. Among them, his daughter Mariam (6 years old) is currently hospitalized, suffering from kidney failure and septicemia. The Federation emphasized the daily difficulties faced by Palestinian athletes, deprived of infrastructure and competitions in Gaza and the West Bank, even more so during this period of intense war led by Israel.

Palestinian Sports Severely Affected

Mohammad Shalaan’s death is part of a series of tragedies affecting Palestinian sports. In early August, former football international Suleiman al-Obeid, nicknamed the « Palestinian Pelé », was also killed by the IDF. The Turkish agency Anadolu recently counted more than 800 athletes killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

« Palestinian basketball and sports in general – especially in Gaza – are systematically violated and destroyed, » laments the Federation.

Gabriel Pantel-Jouve

Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.

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