Yaqeen Hammad, an eleven-year-old girl known as Gaza’s youngest humanitarian volunteer and media activist, was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck her family’s home in the Al-Baraka area of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, reported the Quds News Network.
Born and raised under siege, war, and constant trauma, Yaqeen courageously joined her elder brother, Mohamed Hammad, in delivering food, clothing, and toys to displaced families. Despite her young age, she symbolised hope and strength amidst the unfolding genocide in Gaza.
Yaqeen was an active member of the Ouena Collective, a Gaza-based non-profit that supports humanitarian and mutual aid efforts. She frequently used social media to document her work and raise global awareness of Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe. Her posts showcased her distributing aid, cooking meals for the hungry despite severe shortages, and supporting her community in every possible way.
Through heartfelt videos and messages, Yaqeen touched tens of thousands online. Some of her most powerful clips featured her encouraging donations for orphans and displaced families, playing joyfully with children, and enduring the daily struggles of life in a war zone. Her Instagram became a living archive of her commitment and resilience.
In one of her last posts, Yaqeen stood among other children and declared:
“We still hold firmly to the Quran and to education despite the famine, the siege, and the ongoing genocide — with empty stomachs and faithful hearts.”
Following her martyrdom, an outpouring of grief swept across social media. Journalists, activists, and netizens mourned her loss and condemned Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza, which continues to claim innocent lives, especially children.
Her brother Mahmoud Hammad wrote with heartbreak, “Yaqeen, the world champion. My sister, my soul, was martyred.”
At least 76 people have been killed across Gaza since early Friday, and the death toll continues to rise. Among the latest casualties is journalist Bilal al-Hatoum, killed in the Al-Saftawi area.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 53,822 Palestinians and wounded over 122,382. The Government Media Office reports the death toll could exceed 61,700, with thousands still trapped beneath rubble and presumed dead.
