Mohamed al-Wahidi, 57, director of the Egyptian Committee in Gaza — the relief arm of the Egyptian government providing food, shelter and other assistance to Palestinians in the territory — was killed by an Israeli missile strike on Tuesday evening, shortly before the FIFA World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina kicked off. Al-Wahidi had spent recent weeks organising live screenings of World Cup matches across the Gaza Strip, offering residents a rare moment of collective relief amid relentless hardship. He was travelling by taxi through the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, on his way to a screening in the Tel al-Hawa area of southern Gaza City, when a missile struck the car.

At least three other people were killed in the attack. Among the dead were brothers Hamza and Fari al-Deri, aged 10 and eight, who had been on their way home after playing football nearby. Ahmed Daghmush, 30 or 33 according to differing reports, was struck by shrapnel while inside a relative's house close to the blast site; he was rushed to hospital but died of his wounds shortly after. The director of Shifa Hospital, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, confirmed the strike hit the car in Sabra at dusk. The taxi driver was reported to have survived.

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike but said al-Wahidi was not its intended target.