Azeez Al-Shaair forced to remove name of slain Palestinian girl from eyeblack

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was forced last week to remove an eyeblack that bore the name of Wafaa Akila, an eight-year-old Palestinian girl killed earlier this month by an Israeli airstrike on the first day of her school, according to The Athletic. Al-Shaair made international headlines after Week 1 when the NFL fined him for writing the name, Hind Rajab, on his eyeblack in a game. He began the Texans’ Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, this time with the name Wafaa Akila written on his eyeblack. After it was spotted by a league official, Al-Shaair was informed he would have to remove it or he would not be permitted to continue playing in the game, a league source told The Athletic. While Al-Shaair was fined $11,941 in Week 1, the source told The Athletic he was not fined in Week 2. Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was told by an NFL official to remove the name of Wafaa Akila, an 8-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, from his eye black during the Texans’ Week 2 game or he would not be allowed to continue playing, according to a league source.… pic.twitter.com/2IxQpcqxnK — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 26, 2026