Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has honored a Palestinian child for the fifth straight week by writing the name Maryam Ghanem on his eyeblack for his team's latest National Football League fixture. The tribute took place during the matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Maryam Ghanem is a Gaza resident who became the sole survivor of her family after an Israeli strike hit their home in the Remal neighborhood of Gaza City. Local journalists rescued her from the burning apartment building after hearing her cries, and she was subsequently hospitalized for severe burns. Her father had previously been killed earlier in the conflict.
Al-Shaair has consistently used his eyeblack, which is worn by athletes to reduce glare, as well as his social media platforms to highlight the casualties among Palestinian children in Gaza. The 29-year-old athlete has faced fines and reported threats of removal from games for his actions, yet he continues to speak out.
Earlier in the season, Al-Shaair was fined $11,491 by the NFL for violating the league code of conduct regarding player clothing and equipment during a game against the Buffalo Bills after wearing the name of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl killed in Gaza in early 2024. NBA player Kyrie Irving later stepped forward to cover the financial penalty.
Undeterred by the disciplinary measures, Al-Shaair has maintained his weekly tributes, emphasizing that human life is priceless. Prominent figures, including American Muslim scholar Omar Suleiman, have publicly praised the athlete for using his professional platform to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis.