DaysofPal–Khaled Nabhan, affectionately known as “Sheikh Abu Diaa” and famous for his heartbreaking phrase “Soul of my Soul,” was killed on Monday morning, December 16, 2024, in an Israeli artillery strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Medical sources confirmed that Sheikh Abu Diaa was martyred in a direct artillery strike targeting a group of civilians in the central Gaza Strip. His death comes as yet another chapter in a series of harrowing events that have engulfed the besieged Strip.
Abu Diaa became a symbol of tender grief last year after losing his two grandchildren, Reem and Tariq, in an Israeli airstrike.
A viral video captured him cradling Reem’s lifeless body, kissing her face, and calling her “Soul of my Soul” in a moment of unbearable loss.
His cries of love and devastation resonated across social media and global platforms, humanizing the unimaginable toll of the genocide.
The grandfather’s anguish had once again touched hearts when footage emerged of him holding Tariq and Reem’s bodies, attempting to wake the small child, caressing their faces, and repeatedly whispering, “You are the soul of my soul.” This raw display of sorrow became a symbol of Gaza’s suffering.
Memories Held Close
In a previous interview, Abu Diaa shared keepsakes of his grandchildren—Tariq’s silver soccer medallion and Reem’s delicate earring, which he gently removed from her ear after her passing.
“Tariq would always ask me to play with him, and Reem called me ‘Father’ instead of ‘Grandfather,'” he recounted, his voice steeped in love and heartbreak.
Earlier this year, hope briefly flickered for the Nabhan family with the birth of a granddaughter, Rojad, to Abu Diaa’s eldest son. A joyful Abu Diaa shared the news on Instagram, celebrating her arrival as a gift amid the ongoing pain.
Crushing Loss
Social media erupted in sorrow as news of Abu Diaa’s martyrdom spread. For months, rumors of his death had circulated, only to be refuted by his survival. This time, however, the truth was inescapable: Sheikh Khaled Nabhan, the loving grandfather who gave voice to Gaza’s anguish, was no more.
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