'A beautiful soul'- Tributes paid to young footballer (20) killed in Gaza who spent summers in Ireland
Muhammad Khalifa and seven members of his family were killed when their home was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
A talented young football player who spent two summers in Ireland as a boy was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday.
Muhammad Khalifa, 20, has been described as a “beautiful soul” who was taken from this earth too soon. He was killed alongside seven members of his family when their home at Nuseirat refugee camp was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
In 2016, Khalifa visited Ireland with Al Helal Football Academy as part of a charity trip organised by Gaza Action Ireland. At 12 years old he was described as a talented young player and was on the Palestinian national youth team.
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He also returned to Ireland the following year, in 2017, and met President Michael D Higgins. Former Sinn Fein TD Chris Andrews was part of the group that organised the trip, and said young Khalifa was “great fun and full of hope and life”.
He said: “His family were killed as well. This is one of thousands of children being slaughtered. He could have done anything and achieved anything if Israel hadn’t slaughtered him.”
The politician and activist said Khalifa and the other children loved coming to Ireland, as it was a break from the devastation they were facing at home.
Mr Andrews said: “They were absolutely lovely, they were great fun and they loved their football. They were bright, full of energy, loved life, and had the world at their feet but unfortunately they were born in Gaza which Israel has destroyed and committed genocide against.
“Even before October 7 they were being punished and they had severe restrictions, it was effectively an open-air prison since 2007 and they were being brutalised and punished for so many years.” Khalifa was one of the few children who was brought to Ireland on both trips.
Mr Andrews said it was devastating to see them return to Gaza. He added: “It was a huge escape and it was sad seeing them go back, but they did go back and it was awful knowing what they were going back to every time.
“But the Irish people welcomed them with open arms, we were up in Ballinteer St Johns which is a great GAA club and they were playing hurling and football, it was a great day. They also travelled the country, they did a tour, they saw Galway. Shamrock Rovers were also fantastic, they had them out at one of their matches.
“Sean Boyd also played for Shamrock Rovers at the time and he presented them with jerseys, it was great.” The idea for the trip came about after Mr Andrews and 14 others from Gaza Action Ireland were detained in Gaza in 2011.
They were aboard the MV Saoirse as part of the Freedom Waves to Gaza campaign and were intercepted by the Israeli navy after their attempt to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip was stopped. Twenty-seven activists in total were taken into Israeli custody and held at Givon prison in Raama.
When they returned home, Irish activists decided to try and help Palestinian children from here. Mr Andrews said: “We were jailed and when we came back we said it was very difficult to do anything in Gaza.
“So we showed solidarity with Palestinians [with these trips] so that they knew we are still aware of them, thinking of them and fighting for them. It’s devastatingly sad when you know it could be stopped.
"I worked in the Gaza Strip for four or five months.. you see the kids on the beach, all they want is education and football. Unfortunately, those football pitches have turned to rubble and graveyards, it is dreadful. It’s hard to comprehend.”
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