Kyrie Irving offers to pay NFL fine over tribute to Palestinian girl Hind Rajab
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Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined $11,492 by the NFL for writing “Hind Rajab” on his eye black during the team’s Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The NFL said the unauthorized personal message violated league equipment rules that require prior approval for any written statements on uniforms or gear.
Read more: NFL fines Texans linebacker over Hind Rajab message
Rajab was a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed along with six family members in Gaza City on January 29, 2024, after ‘Israeli’ forces fired on their vehicle.
Audio recordings of the child pleading for help over the phone for hours drew widespread international attention.
In August 2026, the ‘Israeli’ military confirmed that its troops had fired on the vehicle and ordered an internal criminal investigation into the incident.
This marks Al-Shaair’s second such fine this year.
He was previously penalized $11,593 in January for displaying “Stop the Genocide” on his eye black during a playoff game, a message reflecting his longstanding concern for Palestinian civilians.
The Muslim athlete has repeatedly used his platform, including through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats program, to highlight the human cost of the conflict in Gaza.
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving quickly stepped in with public support.
Quoting the report on X, Irving wrote simply: “I’ll take care of his fine.”
I’ll take care of his fine https://t.co/RUo9jXkCFu
— Kyrieš¤š¾ (@KyrieIrving) September 16, 2026
Irving has demonstrated consistent public support for Palestinians over several years, particularly through symbolic gestures and social media statements highlighting civilian suffering.
He publicly expressed sadness over ‘Israeli’ military operations and criticized the killing of innocent children and babies during earlier escalations in Gaza.
In the period following October 2023, he shared posts noting Palestinian casualties, called out media silence on the issue, and later wore a keffiyeh during a post-game press conference as a visible sign of solidarity.
He has also worn a necklace featuring the Palestinian flag shaped as the historic land of Palestine and posted images related to specific incidents of loss in the West Bank.
More recently, Irving has continued these displays at high-profile NBA events.
In early 2026, he appeared at the All-Star Game wearing a “PRESS” shirt dedicated to journalists covering events in Gaza, many of whom have been killed.
He has also changed his Instagram profile picture to an image of a Palestinian child blocked from school by ‘Israeli’ soldiers in the occupied West Bank and worn apparel honoring individual Palestinian journalists.
