October 19 – English Premier League and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has called for world leaders to “come together to prevent further slaughter of all innocent souls’’ in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In response to Hamas’ deadly attacks on October 7 that has sent shockwaves through Jewish communities around the world, Israel has launched an unprecedented on Gaza, blocking off the strip and, to date, preventing humanitarian access from entering.
Most sports stars, including those in the Middle East, have remained silent on the issue, but on Wednesday, Salah, who has 18.6 million followers on X and 62.9 million on Instagram, issued a social media statement, demanding political unity to end the loss of life.
“It’s not always easy to speak in times like these,” said Salah in a video.
“There has been too much violence and too much heartbreaking brutality. The escalation 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. The scenes at the hospital last night were horrifying.
“The people of Gaza need food, water and medical supplies urgently. I’m calling on the world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of all innocent souls. Humanity must prevail.”
Salah, 31, has made an undisclosed personal donation to the Egyptian Red Crescent to support humanitarian work in the Gaza region.
This weekend Liverpool will play the Merseyside derby and across the Premier League a moment’s silence will be at matches and players will wear black armbands in memory of the innocent victims of the Middle East conflict.
Salah’s statement follows a plea for peace by former Manchester United and France star Eric Cantona. German Bundesliga club Mainz have suspended ex-Premier League midfielder Anwar El Ghazi for what it termed his “unacceptable’’ pro-Palestinian stance.
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