'All lives are sacred': Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah makes plea for aid to Gaza

Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah, arguably the most celebrated Arab footballer, calls on world leaders to “come together to prevent further slaughter of all innocent souls” and for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza.

“There has been too much violence and too much heartbreak and brutality,” the Liverpool striker says in a video that lasted a little under a minute. “The escalations in the recent weeks is unbearable to witness. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop. Families are being torn apart.”

Aid to Gaza “must be allowed immediately,” he adds. “The people there are in terrible conditions.”

They were Salah’s first comments on the Israel-Hamas war, after he was criticized by some Arab fans for his silence.

Officials said Wednesday that some aid will begin flowing into Gaza in the coming days.