Egyptian and Liverpool footballer Mohamed Salah has pleaded for an end to the ongoing “massacre” in Gaza, stating the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach the besieged Palestinian territory.
Salah’s comments come as the Israel-Gaza conflict deepens and amid growing concerns over the devastating explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people.
While Palestinian authorities claim that the blast was caused by an Israeli air raid, Israel asserts that it resulted from a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) armed group.
READ ALSO: Drama as Israel Claims ‘Several Dozen’, Not Hundreds, Killed in Gaza Hospital Blast
In a video message shared with his 62.7 million Instagram followers, Sallah said, “It is not always easy to speak in a time like this. There has been too much violence and too much heartbreak and brutality.”
“The escalations in recent weeks is unbearable to witness. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop, families are being torn apart.”
“What is clear now is that humanitarian aid to Gaza must be allowed immediately. The people there are in terrible conditions,” Salah added.
“The scenes at the hospital last night were horrifying. The people of Gaza need food, water and medical supplies urgently.
“I am calling on world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls – humanity must prevail.”
READ ALSO: Israeli military releases aerial footage of Gaza hospital
The footballer, who captains Egypt’s national team, had been criticised for not speaking up in defence of Palestinians, and some critics had started an online campaign to unfollow him on social media.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi was suspended from training and games by his club side Mainz for a social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Also, Bayern Munich are reportedly scheduled to meet full-back Noussair Mazraoui after the Morocco international shared a pro-Palestinian video on Instagram.
In a statement, the club told the DPA German news agency: “Bayern immediately contacted Noussair Mazraoui after his Instagram posts on Sunday.
“After his return [from national team duty], a detailed personal meeting with the club’s management in Munich is planned.”