Maryam Abu Daqa’s parting request to her son: Pray for me, and when you marry and have a daughter, name her Maryam

On Monday, Palestinian child Ghaith, the son of colleague Mariam Abu Daqa, published the last message his mother left before she was killed in an Israeli strike that deliberately hit the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Journalist Mariam Abu Daqa wrote in her message: Ghaith, you are your mother’s heart and soul. I want you to pray for me; don’t cry for me so that I remain happy. I want you to make me proud, be clever and excel, be up to the task and become a capable businessman, my dear.

I want, my mama, that you don’t forget me. I used to do everything so you would enjoy yourself and remain happy and comfortable; I would do everything for you. When you grow up, marry and have a daughter, name her Mariam after me. You are my beloved, my heart, my support and my soul, and my son in whom I raise my head with pride and always rejoice in his reputation. Safe in your hands, Ghaith — your prayers, then your prayers, oh mama.

The Israeli army carried out a gruesome massacre at the Nasser Medical Complex that resulted in the deaths of 16 Palestinians, including five journalists, several medical staff and some civil defense workers in Gaza, continuing the horrific crimes the occupation is committing amid shameful silence and unlimited U.S. support.

A Palestinian medical source confirmed the death of journalist Ahmad Abu Aziz from his wounds after Palestinian journalists and photographers were targeted at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the south of the Strip, noting that the number of Palestinian journalist casualties in today’s massacre has risen to five.

The Israeli army continues its brutal crimes against the Palestinian people, particularly press and media staff who document what is happening inside the Strip as the siege continues and the occupation commits acts of extermination against unarmed civilians, targeting fellow journalists and media workers to obscure the facts and assassinate “the eye of truth” that documents its crimes.

Palestinian medical sources announced on Monday that 16 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured after the occupation bombed the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

The medical sources added that among the journalist victims were Hossam al-Masri, a cameraman for Palestine TV and Reuters; Muhammad Salama, a cameraman for Al Jazeera; photographer and journalist Mariam Abu Daqa, who worked with The Independent and AP; and journalist Muath Abu Taha from NBC News, in addition to injuries to a number of journalists. Several ambulance and civil defense crews were also killed while evacuating the wounded.

Palestinian journalist in the Gaza Strip Mariam Abu Daqa wrote on social media on Sunday about what is happening to Palestinians in the Strip, describing it as acts of genocide: “When you see the soil covering what you value most, then you will realize how trivial life is.”

The number of Palestinian journalists killed has risen to 245 since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, following the announcement of the deaths of the colleagues mentioned above.