Khaled Nabhan, the Palestinian grandfather who captured global attention with his devastating farewell to his granddaughter Reem in 2023, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Khaled first became known to the world for his heartbreaking words, “Soul of my soul. She is the soul of my soul,” spoken as he held the lifeless body of 3-year-old Reem after an Israeli airstrike killed her and her 5-year-old brother, Tarek, on November 22, 2023.
This moment, captured in images and video, brought the world face-to-face with the unimaginable grief endured by Palestinians in Gaza.
On December 16, 2024, over a year after that tragic loss, Khaled was killed by Israeli artillery fire in the same camp where he had mourned his beloved grandchildren.
His death has marked another chapter in the unrelenting suffering of Gaza’s people, as Israel’s war on Gaza enters its 437th day, leaving over 44,976 Palestinians dead and 106,759 wounded.
A Grandfather’s Heartbreaking Farewell
Khaled’s moment of unimaginable grief became a global symbol of the human toll of the conflict. The world saw him tenderly wiping dust from Reem’s face, stroking her hair, and kissing her forehead while repeating, “Soul of my soul.”
“When I said those words, it came out unconsciously,” Khaled later shared in an interview with TRT. “I didn’t even realize I was being filmed—I was completely lost in my sorrow.”
Reem had been playing joyfully just moments before the airstrike that took her life. The footage of Khaled mourning her spread across social media, touching millions around the world and becoming a rallying cry for those standing in solidarity with Gaza.
But Khaled’s response to tragedy did not stop at mourning.
A Symbol of Resilience
In the aftermath of Reem and Tarek’s deaths, Khaled turned his grief into action. He dedicated himself to humanitarian work, launching an initiative named Reem: Soul of the Soul. The project aimed to bring moments of joy to Gaza’s children by distributing toys and gifts, even amidst the destruction of war.
Khaled was often seen comforting families in hospitals, helping the injured, and advocating for children’s rights. Through his Instagram account, which garnered nearly a million followers, he documented life under siege, exposing the world to the daily realities of Gaza’s war. His posts—raw and unfiltered—became a window into the resilience and pain of a besieged people.
Even as he grieved, Khaled remained steadfast, determined to honor the memory of his grandchildren by fighting for the rights of Gaza’s children. “Their short lives will not be forgotten,” he said in one of his final interviews.
A Legacy Cut Short
Khaled’s death has sent shockwaves across Gaza and beyond, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to his people. His loss is a stark reminder of the ongoing human toll of the war, as Gaza’s civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.
As the tragedy in Gaza deepens, Khaled Nabhan’s story—his grief, his love, and his strength—will remain etched in the hearts of millions as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of the Palestinian people.
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