Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah has called for immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to the carnage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Hundreds of Palestinian civilians were killed in a massive explosion at a hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, and concerns grew as supplies of water and food ran out.
Both Israel and Hamas made competing claims about the atrocity, in which at least 500 people were feared dead.
Israel has said it will allow Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip amid its siege following surprise attacks by Hamas on October 7.
In a video posted on social media, Salah said: “It’s not always easy to speak at times like this. There was too much violence and heartache and cruelty.
“The escalation of the last few weeks is unbearable to see. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The killing must stop. Families are being torn apart. “It is now clear that humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza immediately. The people there are in terrible conditions.
“The paintings in the hospital last night were terrible. The people of Gaza are in urgent need of food, water and medical supplies.
“I call on world leaders to come together to stop the killing of innocent souls – humanity must win.”
Salah has already made a “significant” secret donation through his agent to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organization, to support the people of Gaza. US President Joe Biden said Wednesday night that Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had agreed to open the Rafah border crossing to allow about 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Last week, the government urged British sporting bodies to pay tribute to the victims of the recent violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports has apparently written to various governing bodies advising them to pay respects in an appropriate manner at future events.
Although the government has expressed strong support for Israel, the Football Association decided not to light up the Wembley Arch with the colors of the Israeli flag during England’s friendly with Australia last Friday.
England players wore black armbands during the match and a moment of silence was observed before kick-off “in honor of the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine”.
