Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined $11,492 by the NFL after wearing eye black bearing the name of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
The tribute was displayed during Houston’s 36-31 defeat by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The league classified it as an unauthorised personal message rather than issuing a punishment specifically because of its pro-Palestinian meaning.
Under the NFL’s equipment rules, players are forbidden from displaying personal messages visible to spectators or television audiences unless they have received prior approval from the league office. The restriction applies before, during and after games, including post-match interviews. ([operations.nfl.com](https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-rulebook?utm_source=openai))
Azeez Al-Shaair’s tribute to Hind Rajab
Hind Rajab was killed in Gaza City in January 2024 after the vehicle carrying her family came under fire. Two Palestine Red Crescent paramedics who travelled to the scene in an ambulance were also killed.
The circumstances of her death have drawn international attention. In August 2026, Israel’s military announced criminal investigations into the deaths of Hind, her relatives and the paramedics, after previously describing the incident as a tragic mistake during combat operations.
The Associated Press reported that the military acknowledged its forces had fired at the car carrying Hind and had also fired towards the ambulance sent to rescue her. Her family and the Palestine Red Crescent have called for an independent international investigation. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/c0a733a3ac78660b474e5bdb47154f8b))
Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, has previously used his profile as an NFL player to express support for Palestinians. He was fined $11,593 in January after writing “Stop the Genocide” on his eye black during a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That message was also judged to breach the league’s rules on personal statements. The NFL’s published schedule of fines lists personal messages among violations subject to financial penalties. ([operations.nfl.com](https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/rules-enforcement/accountability-fines-appeals?utm_source=openai))
NBA star Kyrie Irving has publicly offered to pay Al-Shaair’s latest fine. The Texans linebacker is not expected to appeal the punishment.
