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Salah Calls for End to 'Massacres', Aid to Be Allowed into Gaza

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP
Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP
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Salah Calls for End to 'Massacres', Aid to Be Allowed into Gaza

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP
Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

Liverpool and Egypt football star Mohamed Salah called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza on Wednesday as he pleaded for an end to "massacres" in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Gazans have been facing dire shortages as the territory was effectively sealed off in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli communities and military posts that claimed 1,400 lives.

On Tuesday, a deadly rocket strike hit a Gaza hospital that Hamas blamed on Israel, AFP said.

However, Israel denied responsibility, claiming the strike was caused by an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants.

A Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool, Egypt captain Salah, 31, is one of the most popular athletes in the Arab world.

"It is not always easy to speak in a time like this. There has been too much violence and too much heartbreak and brutality," Salah said in a video posted to his 62.7 million followers on Instagram.

"The escalations in recent weeks are unbearable to witness. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop, families are being torn apart."

After a visit by US President Joe Biden to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israel said it had agreed to his request to allow aid into the besieged Gaza via Egypt due to mounting concern about dwindling supplies and warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.

"What is clear now is that humanitarian aid to Gaza must be allowed immediately. The people there are in terrible conditions," Salah added.

"The scenes at the hospital last night were horrifying. The people of Gaza need food, water and medical supplies urgently.

"I am calling on world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls - humanity must prevail."

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Injured Djokovic Stops in Australian Open Semifinals against Zverev

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
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Injured Djokovic Stops in Australian Open Semifinals against Zverev

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring from his semi final match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgar Su

An injured Novak Djokovic quit because of a torn muscle in his left leg after dropping the first set of his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Djokovic lost the opener 7-6 (5) in a tiebreaker and immediately walked around the net to concede the match to Zverev. Fans booed as Djokovic walked off toward the locker room, and he responded by giving two thumbs-up, The Associated Press reported.
“It was getting worse and worse,” Djokovic said later at his news conference, referring to the pain in his leg, which he hurt during his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night. “I knew, even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me.”
Djokovic was bidding for an 11th championship at the Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam title overall. He withdrew from last year's French Open before the quarterfinals after tearing the meniscus in his right knee.
The only set of Djokovic vs. Zverev lasted 1 hour, 20 minutes and included 19 points that lasted nine strokes or more apiece. The first four games alone lasted 31 minutes.
It was grueling — and would have been even without dealing with a problem with one’s body. But Djokovic showed up with his left thigh taped up, a reminder that he finished the contest against Alcaraz that way after hurting himself late in the first set.
“I didn't hit the ball since Alcaraz match until like an hour before today’s match,” Djokovic said Friday. “I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had. Medications and I guess the (tape) and the physio work helped to some extent today. But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain and it was too much for me to handle. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
The 37-year-old Djokovic was asked whether this might have been his last appearance at Melbourne Park.
“There is a chance. Who knows?” Djokovic said. “I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going.”
The No. 2-seeded Zverev reached his first title match at Melbourne Park.