The Israel Defense Forces published a detailed list of 12 Palestinian terror operatives killed during the war, who had been publicly portrayed as soccer players. The IDF said the revelations expose a 'false campaign' accusing Israel of targeting athletes, and that the operatives were members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including several who participated in the October 7, 2023, attack.
The Israel Defense Forces released the full list of 12 Gaza terror operatives who had been portrayed as soccer players, expanding on initial disclosures made earlier this evening. At 18:29 Jerusalem, the IDF first revealed that a FIFA international assistant referee was among the operatives; the military has now published names, organizational affiliations, and operational roles for all 12 individuals.
The IDF's disclosures began at 18:29 Jerusalem, when it confirmed that the 'footballers' killed during the war were Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives. Subsequent statements named a FIFA referee, the captain of Shabab Khan Younis who participated in the October 7 massacre, and a coach who served as a platoon commander in Rafah. The full list, released shortly thereafter, includes commanders of companies and anti-tank units, based on an intelligence investigation.
The release is part of the IDF's response to an international campaign accusing Israel of deliberately targeting athletes. As The Zioneer reported on June 22, similar patterns have emerged with journalists and aid workers, where terror groups concealed operatives under civilian professions. The IDF says the campaign is a 'false narrative' that ignores the dual role of these individuals.
The list has been published by the IDF, but independent verification of the claimed identities and roles has not been possible. The international campaign, which the IDF seeks to counter, continues to generate debate.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake