Football fan's photo gesture for 14-year-old boy in Gaza

Ali was unable to stop smiling after seeing his photograph at Anfield

A 14-year-old boy in Gaza was able to momentarily "forget about the bombs" after a fellow football fan took his photograph to Anfield.

Ali fears he will be killed before he has the chance to visit the home of Liverpool FC.

His older brother Abubaker arranged the surprise to help put a smile on his face amid the ongoing conflict.

Abubaker said his family never imagined this could be possible after reaching out for help on social media.

Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people and taking hostages.

More than 10,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

"During the war, I was afraid," Abubaker said in voice notes sent to the BBC.

"I said at some point, probably all of a sudden, out of the blue, we're going to be bombed and Ali will be killed and I'm going to be killed.

"We're not an exception in this little strip that we're going to be surviving this war yet again.

"We've survived four wars. And this war may not be another one we survive."

Ali always hoped to visit the home of his favourite football club

In a bid to make his brother's dreams come true, he messaged Ben on The Anfield Talk podcast.

"Ali is so crazy about Liverpool, he's so obsessed with Liverpool," said Abubaker.

"He watches every game, he loves the players, he loves Salah, he loves everyone.

"It's his dream to get to Anfield."

Ben quickly agreed to help, adding: "I will do anything at all from my end if it can help somebody just a little bit."

He arranged for his friend Sajad to print out the photograph, put it in a frame and take it to famous landmarks around the ground.

"I then sent the pictures across to Abubaker and his response was heartbreaking," he said.

"He said that he hasn't stopped smiling, and that for a few moments they as a family completely forgot about the bombs and that it's a historic moment in their family history."

More on Israel-Gaza war

• Follow live: Latest updates

• From Gaza: Palestinian given two hours to evacuate whole neighbourhood

• From Israel: Pain still raw a month after Hamas attacks

• Watch: The devastating effects of war on Gaza's children

Sajad decided to take the picture to the stadium on Wednesday ahead of the latest fixture.

"I'm a lifelong Red and someone lucky to travel to every home and away game," he said.

"I wanted to make a fellow Red's dream come true by taking a picture at the ground.

"With everything happening in Palestine right now, I didn't want to wait until Sunday's game because anything can happen until then.

"I just wanted to put a smile on his face."

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