What did ‘Soul of My Soul’ sensation say before martyrdom?

"We remain steadfast, my homeland," wrote Sheikh Khaled Nabhan, popularly known as "Abu Diaa" and recognized for his popular phrase on social media "Soul of the Soul," in his final message before he was killed in an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The late grandfather gained worldwide attention and went viral on social media for the deeply emotional way he said goodbye to his granddaughter, Reem, late last year. In a video that moved millions, Sheikh Khaled was seen holding her lifeless body, kissing her face for the last time, and tearfully calling her the "Soul of My Soul."

Read more: VIDEO - Gazan social media sensation killed in “Israeli” airstrike

The footage, which spread widely online, struck a chord with viewers, capturing the raw grief of a grandfather’s loss. In another heartbreaking scene, Khaled was shown tenderly cradling the body of his grandson Tarek. With disbelief etched on his face, he tried to wrap him in a shroud and gently close his mouth, displaying a fatherly love that endured even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

These moments of farewell turned Sheikh Khaled into a symbol of the profound suffering endured by families in Gaza. His words, "Soul of My Soul," have since become a poignant expression of Palestinian grief and resilience.

Social media users shared his story widely, and artists immortalized his image in paintings of him holding his granddaughter, ensuring that his memory lives on as a testament to human sorrow and strength.

Sheikh Khaled Nabhan died as a martyr, leaving behind a legacy of love, loss, and resilience that encapsulates the enduring pain faced by Gaza’s people amid ongoing bombings and hardship.