Key facts
- Fatima Nofal lost her 15-month-old son Zaid in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
- Zaid was the fourth son Nofal has lost to Israeli attacks.
- Three of her sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike on October 13, 2023.
- Nofal gave birth to Zaid in April 2025, viewing his birth as a miracle.
- Her daughters were also injured in the recent strike, with one hospitalized.
Fatima Nofal, a Palestinian mother from Gaza, has experienced profound tragedy after her 15-month-old son, Zaid, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in the al-Bureij refugee camp. This incident occurred just months after three of her other sons, including a newborn, were killed in an Israeli attack in October 2023. Nofal described Zaid's birth in April 2025 as a "small miracle" that brought joy amid the ongoing conflict. She recounted the moments before the strike, having moved Zaid to a spot by the window for a breeze due to the heat. Neighbours helped pull Zaid from the rubble, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Nofal, who was also injured, spoke of her deep grief and the difficulty of explaining Zaid's death to her surviving daughters, one of whom is still hospitalized with head trauma. The article highlights that children continue to be casualties in Gaza, with Unicef reporting hundreds killed since a ceasefire was announced. The UN's independent commission of inquiry has found evidence of deliberate targeting of Palestinian children by Israeli forces. Nofal believes Israel is intentionally targeting Palestinians, stating, "Israel is intent on killing us, and it needs no justification to do so."