‘Soul of my soul,’ Israel kills Gaza’s beloved grandfather Khaled Nabhan

The Israeli occupation army killed beloved Palestinian grandfather Khaled Nabhan, also known as Abu Diyaa, in an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Abu Diyaa had become a beloved Palestinian figure on social media after he was seen bidding farewell to his deceased granddaughter and calling her "soul of my soul," a hearflet expression he used to describe the young girl, who was also killed in an earlier Israeli attack.

The deadly onslaught in Gaza continues, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) pounding several schools and refugee camps in Khan Younis, Beit Hanoun, Shujaea, and Nuseirat. In just 24 hours, at least 100 Palestinians have been killed.

Abu Diyaa became a symbol of resilience and love after a viral video showed him bidding an emotional farewell to his deceased granddaughter, whom he adored deeply.

He was known for consoling grieving families, engaging in humanitarian work, and even caring for Gaza’s stray cats. 

The aftermath of the airstrikes has left horrific scenes of carnage, with reports of Palestinians burned alive and hundreds suffering severe wounds.

In another devastating incident on December 6, four doctors were killed by the Israeli army during a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital.

Gaza’s last remaining bone surgeon, Dr Saeed Joda, was recently killed in a drone strike, further crippling the territory’s fragile healthcare system.

Palestinians on social media highlighted the dire situation in Gaza's remaining functioning hospitals, which are overwhelmed and unable to handle the massive influx of casualties.

Due to a lack of shrouds, families are now forced to bury their loved ones in blankets or clothing, as the death toll continues to outnumber available resources in the besieged enclave.

The overall Palestinian death toll since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza has reached at least 44,976 with more than 106,759 wounded. Thousands more remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.