The child Israel couldn’t break, except through death: Gaza loses its youngest activist
An 11-year-old girl, recognized as the Gaza Strip’s youngest media activist and humanitarian volunteer, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted her family home the central part of the war-battered coastal sliver.
Maktoob Media, an independent Indian news outlet, reported the tragic development on Friday, identifying the victim as Yaqeen Hammad.
The report described the victim as an untiring humanitarian and media campaigner, who had became a symbol of resilience and hope for many in Gaza amid an incessant Israeli war of genocide and a simultaneous near-total siege imposed by Tel Aviv on the territory.
She actively participated in humanitarian efforts, often accompanying her elder brother, humanitarian worker Mohamed Hammad, to deliver aid to displaced families, the outlet noted.
Her contributions included distributing food, clothes, and toys, bringing joy to those hit hard by the October 2023-present genocide.
Yaqeen used to be closely associated with the Ouena Collective, a Gaza-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and supporting mutual aid projects there.
Through her social media presence, particularly on Instagram, she documented her charitable activities and the daily struggles of life under the siege, reaching tens of thousands of viewers.
Her videos used to showcase donation projects for orphans and displaced families, moments of joy with children, and her efforts to navigate the challenges posed by Tel Aviv’s atrocities.
On the night of May 23, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the al-Baraka neighborhood in the city of Deir al-Balah, resulting in the death of Yaqeen Hammad as she was with her family.
The digital legacy
Yaqeen’s Instagram account stands as a digital testament to her life and work, Maktoob Media said.
Through her posts, she used to express unwavering faith and resilience, even in the face of adversity.
In one of her videos, she wrote, “We still hold firmly to the [Holy] Qur’an and to education despite the famine, the siege, and the ongoing genocide — with empty stomachs and faithful hearts.”
‘My sister, my soul was martyred’
Following her untimely death, tributes poured in from activists, journalists, and social media users, who had been inspired by her courage and compassion.
Her brother, Mahmoud, expressed his grief, stating, “Yaqeen, the world champion. My sister, my soul, was martyred.”
The war has claimed the lives of more than 61,700 people, mostly women and children, in Gaza.
Last month, the territory’s Hamas resistance movement said fatalities resulting from the warfare had killed above 19,000 children.
