Arabic version: الشعير يكرّم وفاء عقيلة على طلاء العين

According to Al Jazeera, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore the name “Wafaa Akila” on his eye black during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Houston. The gesture continued his efforts to raise awareness of Palestinian children killed in Gaza.

Al-Shaair’s appearance followed an NFL fine of $11,941 after he wore the name of Hind Rajab on his eye black in a September 13 game against the Buffalo Bills. The league said he had breached its code of conduct on players’ clothing and equipment. Basketball player Kyrie Irving offered to pay the fine, and Al-Shaair later confirmed he had been in contact with the nine-time NBA All-Star.

Speaking to reporters after the earlier fine, Al-Shaair said: “It’s bigger to me; what’s a life worth? Is a life worth $11,000? No, I think it’s priceless.” He also shared posts about Akila and her mother’s reaction to the killing on Instagram. A video posted after the Bengals game showed him interacting on the sidelines with children, including some wearing keffiyehs and some amputees holding posters supporting him.

Akila, eight, was killed with her father in an Israeli attack in western Gaza on September 6, her first day of school, as they were travelling home. Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli drone struck their car and that only a few pages of her school books survived. Israel has killed at least 21,500 children since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Al-Shaair was also fined in January during the NFL’s previous season for displaying “Stop The Genocide” on his nose tape. American Muslim scholar Omar Suleiman praised the player in a social media post, citing his support for Palestinian children and his willingness to honour a Palestinian child despite fines.