Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said on Monday that families grieving for their loved ones in Gaza should not be forgotten, as he issued an emotional Christmas message marking only his second comment on the war in the enclave.
Quick Read
- Mohamed Salah’s Christmas Message: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah shared a heartfelt Christmas message, expressing deep concern for families in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the heavy hearts many carry into the holiday season due to the war and the suffering in Gaza.
- Salah’s Reflection on the War in Gaza: Salah acknowledged the severe impact of the conflict in Gaza, which has seen intense bombardment from Israel since Hamas militants launched attacks on October 7th. The Israeli response has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza.
- Statistics from the Conflict: According to Salah, Israel’s retaliation to Hamas’ attacks, which killed 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages, has led to over 20,400 deaths and at least 50,000 injuries in Gaza.
- Call for Remembrance and Compassion: Salah urged his followers to remember those suffering and to not become desensitized to their pain. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas, but with a tone of solidarity with those grieving in the Middle East.
- Response to Criticism and Support for Gaza: Salah had initially faced criticism for his silence on the conflict but later spoke out against the “massacres” and called for humanitarian aid in Gaza. He also made a significant donation to aid efforts through the Egyptian Red Crescent.
- Salah’s Influence and Career: As one of the top scorers in the English Premier League, Salah has a considerable following, with millions of fans on social media platforms where he shared his message. His comments on the conflict highlight his influence beyond the football field.
Reuters has the story:
Liverpool’s Salah: “With brutal war in Mideast, death & destruction in Gaza, we get to Christmas with heavy hearts.’
Newslooks- CAIRO (Reuters)
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said on Monday that families grieving for their loved ones in Gaza should not be forgotten, as he issued an emotional Christmas message marking only his second comment on the war in the enclave.
Salah posted a black-and-white picture of a Christmas tree on his social media pages, saying he was approaching Christmas with a heavy heart amid the fighting in Gaza, which has been under intense bombardment by Israel since Hamas militants launched a cross-border rampage on Oct. 7.
Israel says Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took around 240 people hostage in their attack. Israel’s ensuing bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 20,400 people and wounded at least 50,000, according to authorities in the Hamas-ruled strip.
“With the brutal war going on in the Middle East, especially the death and destruction in Gaza, this year we get to Christmas with very heavy hearts and we share the pain of those families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones,” Salah said.
“Please do not forget them and do not get used to their suffering. Merry Christmas,” Salah wrote to his more than 63 million followers on Instagram and almost 19 million on X.
Salah had faced some criticism in his native Egypt after staying silent on the issue for more than a week after the war started, with many fans comparing his stance to other Arab sports figures who have been more vocal about it.
Egyptian Red Crescent officials said in October that Salah had made a “significant donation” to help the people of Gaza.
In his first comments on the conflict in October, less than two weeks after the war started, Salah called for an end to what he described as “ massacres“, appealing for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza.
The 31-year-old is one of the leading scorers in the English Premier League this season.
