Mohammed Barakat

Mohammed Barakat (; 22 June 1984 – 11 March 2024) was a Palestinian footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed "the Lion" and "the Legend of Khan Younis", Barakat was the first centurion player in Palestinian football history, having scored 114 goals for Khan Younis Youth Club (Shabab Khan Younis). Prior to his death, the last club he played for was Ahly Gaza in the Gaza Strip Premier League. In July 2026, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Barakat had been a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and alleged that he had infiltrated Israel during the 7 October 2023 attacks.

International career Barakat made his debut for the Palestine national team on 2 March 2013 in a 1–0 victory against Bangladesh at the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification. He also played in a 9–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands in the same tournament two days later. However, he was not selected to play in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

His last appearance for the national team came in a 2–0 friendly defeat against Qatar on 17 April 2013.

Death Barakat was killed by the Israel Defence Force during an airstrike on 11 March 2024, amid the Siege of Khan Yunis. He was 39. His remains were found in his destroyed home in Khan Yunis.

In July 2026, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Barakat had allegedly been a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and alleged that he had infiltrated Israel during the 7 October 2023 attack. The announcement formed part of an IDF allegation that Palestinian footballers killed during the Gaza attack had been portrayed internationally as civilian athletes.