Khaled Nabhan, the Palestinian grandfather who gained international attention for his heart-wrenching “soul of my soul” tribute to his slain granddaughter, has also now been killed by Israel.
Known as “Abu Diaa”, Nabhan was killed early Monday during an Israeli bombardment on the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian journalists.
In November 2023, he captured global sympathy when viral footage showed him kissing the eyes of his three-year-old granddaughter Reem and cradling her lifeless body after she was killed, along with his grandson Tarek, by Israel.
His tribute, describing Reem as the “soul of my soul”, became a powerful symbol of the profound human suffering caused by Israel’s genocide in Gaza – an image of grief that resonated worldwide.
Now nearly 13 months after losing Reem, Nabhan’s own killing underscores the brutality of the Israeli attack on civilians in Gaza.
Social media was flooded with tributes mourning the loss of a grandfather who had become an unintentional global symbol of Palestinian loss and resilience.
Khaled Nabhan, the soul of our soul, is martyred.
— Yaqeen Institute (@yaqeeninstitute) December 16, 2024
We honor a man whose beautiful patience in moments of immense pain touched the hearts of so many. #yqnshorts pic.twitter.com/wl6sCqDiKu
Israel just murdered Khaled Nabhan, whose story garnered global attention last year when CNN ran a report about Israel slaughtering his grandchild "the soul of [his] soul"
— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) December 16, 2024
Khaled had been sharing videos depicting daily life in Gaza
Israel also recently bombed his brother's home pic.twitter.com/ICXrVtb0MC
Khaled Nabhan wore his grandson Tareq’s football medal as a necklace and carried his granddaughter Reem’s earring with him as a brooch on his thobe. The immense love he had for them. They are now together in the highest levels of Paradise insha'Allah. إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون pic.twitter.com/tmxLgYMTBR
— Khadija (@khadljasays) December 16, 2024
It was a genuine honor for me to be able to speak a few months ago to our elder, our senior, our role model, Khaled Nabhan, who was brutally and unnecessarily murdered by the Apartheid Regime of Israel today.
— Dr. Yasir Qadhi (@YasirQadhi) December 16, 2024
I was able to tell him that he has impacted tens of millions of people… pic.twitter.com/ghCwP7HZXB
This video of uncle Khaled Nabhan comforting a girl whose leg was amputated after she was injured in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, always makes me cry.
— Fatima (@fatimazsaid) December 16, 2024
He was such a gentle, beautiful soul. May Allah grant him Firdaws pic.twitter.com/72MHucj40s
Image: khaledmnabhann instagram