Heartbreaking Farewell: 'Abu Diaa,' Symbol of Gaza's Pain, Killed in Israeli Airstrike

The world will not forget the poignant image of Khaled Nabhan, known as "Abu Diaa," cradling the lifeless body of his granddaughter, Reem, after she was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza in November last year. The elderly man’s heartbreaking gesture of holding her close, opening her eyes, and softly calling her “Soul of my soul” became a viral symbol of the human tragedy endured by Palestinians in Gaza.

Today, Abu Diaa himself became another casualty of the ongoing violence. He was killed in a deadly Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp, which claimed the lives of dozens of civilians. Abu Diaa’s sorrowful story was marked not only by the loss of his beloved granddaughter Reem but also his grandson Tariq, who died in the same conflict, leaving his life filled with immeasurable grief.

With his passing, Gaza has lost a figure who embodied both pain and resilience, leaving behind a legacy that resonates far beyond his homeland.