Palestinian grandfather famous for viral 'soul of the soul' video killed by Israeli air strike

Sheikh Khaled Nabhan, also known as Abu Diyaa, was described as 'a man of faith' by his friends

Khaled Nabhan with granddaughter Reem. Friends suggest the Gaza community worker with a 'resilient' spirit may not have been a random victim of Israeli bombing. Photo: Khaled Nabhan

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Sheikh Khaled Nabhan, 54, whose touching farewell to his three-year-old granddaughter Reem – killed in Israeli bombing – went viral on social media, died on Monday in an attack on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

The father of five, known as Abu Diyaa, gained widespread recognition in November after the video in which he describes his granddaughter as "soul of the soul" was widely on social media. An Israeli air strike on their home killed both his grandchildren, Reem and Tarek.

Saeed Nabhan, Mr Nabhan's nephew who accompanied him on his charity work during the Israel-Gaza war, said that his children and grandchildren were "his entire world, and he spent much of his time playing with and caring for them”.

Known for his cheerful demeanor, Mr Nabhan brought joy to those around him. “In his final days, Abu Diyaa dedicated himself to charitable work, visiting shelters to check on displaced families and striving to provide support and assistance to those in need," Saeed told The National.

"He played a significant role in organising communal kitchens to distribute meals to displaced people and those affected by the harsh conditions of the Israeli aggression. Just days before his martyrdom, he participated in one of these food distributions.”

Hundreds gathered for Mr Nabhan's funeral in central Gaza. Mourners prayed and wiped blood and dust from his face. Condolences and praise for the positive impact he made in life have flooded social media, which he used to encourage support for Gaza’s needy.

“His compassion extended beyond people to animals, as he cared for stray cats in Nuseirat Camp. Even during the war, he went to great lengths to provide food and water for the cats, despite the immense challenges of accessing supplies during the conflict,” said Saeed.

“Abu Diyaa was one of the most influential figures in Nuseirat Camp, widely known for his role as a man of faith and a model of virtuous Islamic values," Saad Taha Abu, a neighbour and friend, told The National.

"Renowned for his wisdom and dedication to fostering goodwill, people often sought his counsel to mediate disputes. His warm relationships and high regard among the community made him an exceptional peacemaker.”

With one million followers on Instagram, Mr Nabhan shared videos of his family and voiced his hopes for his grandchildren. According to online accounts, he and Reem shared a birthday which would have been celebrated in late December. Reem would have been four years old.

Mr Nabhan carried keepsakes of his grandchildren. On the first anniversary of their deaths, he built a new gravestone, planted flowers and surrounded it with white stones.

His humanitarian initiative, Reem, Soul of the Soul, gave gifts to lift the spirits of children traumatised by Israeli bombardment. "In every hurt child, I see Reem and Tarek," said Mr Nabhan.

He gave toys that belonged to his grandchildren to orphans and comforted injured people of Gaza, while he often visited his daughter, Reem and Tarek's mother.

"I don't believe Abu Diyaa's targeting was random," Mr Taha said. "The occupation has consistently targeted influential Palestinian figures who inspire resilience and unity among the people throughout this war of extermination that has lasted over 14 months.

“Abu Diyaa had dreams of an end to the war, a return to peace and safety. Yet, the occupation extinguished these hopes, along with the life of a man who had dedicated himself to the well-being of his community.”

Two weeks ago, Mr Nabhan posted a video of his brother Asaad Nabhan's house, which was destroyed by the Israeli forces. He was seen helping civil defence forces put out the fire.