RAFAH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center ) Mohammed al-Satari, striker for Shabab Rafah football club, was shot and martyred by Israeli occupation forces while waiting for humanitarian aid in the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Satri, 36, began his career with Qadisiyah Rafah Club, helping the team achieve a historic promotion from the fourth division to the Premier League in the 2016–2017 season. He later joined Khadamat Rafah on loan, winning the Palestinian Super Cup against Shabab Khan Yunis and finishing runner-up in the Palestinian Premier League.
He went on to play for Shabab Rafah, where he lifted the Gaza Cup, before moving on loan to al-Sadaqa for one season. Following his loan spells, al-Satari joined al-Tuffah Club and guided the team to the Premier League in 2019–2020, later repeating the achievement with Ahli Gaza and Khadamat al-Nuseirat. He also had stints with Khadamat al-Maghazi and al-Jama‘i clubs. His reputation for helping teams earn promotion earned him the nicknames “the traveler of Gaza football” and “the promotion talisman.”
Al-Satari was among thousands displaced by Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, forced to flee his home in Rafah’s Saudi neighborhood to al-Mawasi in Khan Yunis. The sports community in Gaza has been devastated by repeated losses during the genocide: Khadamat al-Nuseirat lost its captain Mohammed Abu Zaid on January 15, 2025, goalkeeper Mohammed al-Ghaffari on November 28, 2024 and playmaker Tariq al-Hour on October 27, 2023.
According to the Palestine Sports Agency, more than 810 athletes in Palestine have been martyred since October 7, 2023, including around 370 football players. Over 288 sports facilities have been destroyed, 119 athletes remain missing, and 29 others were arrested.
