Yaqeen Hammad, 11-year-old activist and influencer, killed in Israeli strike
LONDON: Palestinian activist and social media influencer Yaqeen Hammad, 11, was killed in an Israeli airstrike over the weekend in northern Gaza, amid an intensifying Israeli military campaign.
Yaqeen died on Friday night when Israeli forces shelled the Al-Baraka area in Deir Al-Balah. Her death came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the entire Gaza Strip under Israeli control by the end of the war.
Known throughout Gaza for her radiant smile, optimism, and humanitarian work, Yaqeen had become a symbol of resilience in a region devastated by conflict. Alongside her older brother, Mohamed Hammad, she delivered food, toys, and clothing to displaced families. She was also an active member of Ouena, a Gaza-based nonprofit focused on aid and relief efforts.
'I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war,' she once wrote on social media.
Despite her young age, Yaqeen had gained a large following for her ability to bring comfort and positivity to others during wartime. According to the Palestine Chronicle, she also shared practical survival tips for living under siege, such as cooking without gas, a common hardship in Gaza caused by repeated blockades and infrastructure destruction.
Always seen with a radiant smile and unwavering spirit, 11-year-old Yaqeen Hammad was a beacon of hope in Palestine's Gaza.
But on May 23, her bright future was tragically cut short by an Israeli air strike.
IG | TRT World pic.twitter.com/OiY3npw4qc
— αпiпδιтα (@_SyncreticWorld) May 26, 2025
News of her death triggered an outpouring of grief on social media and in Gaza. Activists, journalists, and followers mourned the loss of a child who had become a symbol of light during one of Gaza's darkest times.
'Always seen with a radiant smile and unwavering spirit, 11-year-old Yaqeen Hammad was a beacon of hope in Palestine's Gaza,' read one tribute on X.
Photojournalist Mahmoud Bassam wrote: 'Her body may be gone, but her impact remains a beacon of humanity.'
Yaqeen's death comes as Israeli airstrikes intensify despite ongoing discussions about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Over the weekend, more than 100 people were killed, including 52 on Monday, when a strike hit a school-turned-shelter where many were sleeping.
The ongoing bombardment has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. International organizations have condemned Israel's blockade on aid, saying that the enclave's 2.3 million residents are facing starvation.
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