Former Palestine Under-17 footballer Fadi Hamdallah Al-Naasan died after spending a week in critical condition following a shooting during violence in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials.
RAMALLAH: Fadi Hamdallah Al-Naasan, a 17-year-old Palestinian footballer and former member of Palestine’s national Under-17 team, has died after spending a week in critical condition following a shooting during violence in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials and his family said on Saturday.
Al-Naasan, who played for Al-Mughayyir Club, was shot during an incident in the village of Al-Mughayyir on July 11 that Palestinian authorities described as an alleged Israeli settler attack. Despite intensive treatment, including the amputation of one of his legs, he succumbed to his injuries.
Hundreds of mourners attended his funeral after his body was transferred from the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to his hometown of Al-Mughayyir.
His father, Hamdallah Al-Naasan, said the teenager rushed to help villagers after hearing cries from women and children during the violence, where he was seriously wounded. His mother described him as a gifted student and dedicated footballer who was respected throughout the community.
The Palestinian Football Association called his death a significant loss for Palestinian football, noting that he had represented the country at youth level and was considered one of its promising young talents.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, two other people were injured by rubber bullets during the same incident, while a 10-year-old child sustained head injuries after being struck by a stun grenade. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.
The United Nations has reported a sharp increase in settler-related violence in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Palestinian health authorities say at least 1,088 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli forces or settlers during that period. Israel’s recent approval of funding for 34 new settlements has also drawn international criticism, with many governments and the United Nations saying such expansion undermines prospects for a lasting peace.
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