The Israel Defense Forces released a list Wednesday identifying 12 Gaza soccer players, coaches, and a FIFA referee killed during the war as members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Among those named are Mohammed Barakat, who the military says took part in the October 7 attack, and Mohammed Mansour, identified as a deputy commander in Hamas's Nuseirat Battalion. The IDF said the findings are based on an intelligence investigation and accused critics of omitting the individuals' alleged terror ties.
The Israel Defense Forces released a detailed list Wednesday evening identifying 12 Gaza soccer players, coaches, and a FIFA referee killed during the war as members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The military said the findings are based on an intelligence investigation and accused critics of portraying the individuals solely as members of the soccer community while omitting their alleged ties to terror groups.
The IDF's disclosure came in a series of coordinated updates Wednesday evening, beginning with the release of the list at 18:29 Jerusalem. Among those named are Mohammed Barakat, whom the IDF says took part in the October 7 attack, and Mohammed Mansour, identified as a deputy commander in Hamas's Nuseirat Battalion who also allegedly participated in the infiltration. The list also includes Mahmoud Kamal Mohammed Ali Al-Rifi, whom the IDF says commanded a company in Hamas's aerial array, and FIFA referee Mohammed Sami Mohammed Khattab, identified as a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member. In a subsequent statement, the IDF said that attempts to depict the slain individuals as innocent civilians are 'part of a broader effort promoted by various actors against the State of Israel.'
As The Zioneer has reported, the IDF has consistently identified and eliminated Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives throughout the war, including those involved in the October 7 massacre. The identification of soccer figures as terror operatives adds a new dimension to the public information war over the nature of the conflict in Gaza.
The IDF's claims are based on its own intelligence investigation and have not been independently verified. The international campaign accusing Israel of deliberately targeting athletes continues to dispute the military's characterizations of the slain individuals.
11 developments
- DevelopingIDF Eliminates 4 Islamic Jihad Commanders in Gaza Strike
- StrongIDF says it killed 12 terrorists in Gaza, including senior Hamas figures and Oct. 7 Nukhba cell commander
- DevelopingIDF kills two Hamas operatives who carried out October 7 massacre in precision strikes
- StrongIDF kills four Hamas commanders including Oct. 7 infiltration leader and naval police chief
Source and signal
- Internal intake