# IDF says Palestinian soccer players it struck were Hamas and Jihad fighters

The Israeli Defense Forces claimed that Palestinian soccer players it targeted in recent strikes were operatives for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This statement comes amid the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the targeting of athletes and the blurring lines between combatants and civilians. The allegations highlight the complex and fraught nature of the conflict.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [Fox News Sports](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/idf-says-palestinian-soccer-players-targeted-served-hamas-jihad-terror-groups) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:24:42 -0400