Al-Shaair's eyeblack
NFL’s Azeez Al-Shaair honors slain Palestinian child Fatima al-Bayouk
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- Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair continued his tributes to Palestinian children during the NFL season, dedicating his latest gesture to eight-year-old Fatima Hisham al-Bayouk, who died after being shot in Gaza.
- Fatima was the sole survivor of her immediate family after her mother and two younger siblings were killed in an ‘Israeli’ strike in December 2023.
- Al-Shaair has repeatedly honored Palestinian children despite NFL fines and warnings over messages displayed on his eye black.
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is honoring eight-year-old Palestinian girl Fatima Hisham al-Bayouk during Sunday's NFL game against the New York Giants, continuing a series of tributes to children killed or injured in Gaza amid ‘Israel's’ ongoing military campaign.
Al-Shaair, who has used the black strips beneath his eyes to display the names of Palestinian children, is dedicating his latest tribute to Fatima, who died from injuries sustained after being struck by ‘Israeli’ gunfire east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Fatima had reportedly been the sole survivor of her immediate family. Her mother and two younger siblings, Leen, a baby less than a year old, and three-year-old Asaad, were killed in an ‘Israeli’ strike on Dec. 13, 2023.
In the days before Fatima died, pleas circulated for her urgent medical evacuation in the hope that she could receive treatment and survive. Her death has renewed attention to the dangers facing Palestinian children in Gaza, including those who have already lost family members during the war.
A season of tributes to Palestinian children
Fatima is the latest in a series of Palestinian children Al-Shaair has honored during the 2026 NFL season. His tributes have included five-year-old Hind Rajab, eight-year-old Wafaa Akila, sisters Lana and Bana Ahmad, and 10-year-old Amal Abu Khater.
Al-Shaair's tributes have continued despite disciplinary action by the NFL. The league fined him for displaying Hind Rajab's name and previously penalized him for wearing the message “Stop the Genocide” during the 2025–26 season's playoffs. He was also warned to remove Wafaa's name during a game or risk being barred from continuing to play.
The linebacker has also supported Palestine beyond his eye-black tributes. In 2024, he wore custom cleats bearing the words “Free Palestine” as part of his efforts to support the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund and draw attention to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
