Mariam Mohammad at-Tilbani

Their life

Mariam Mohammad Odah at-Tilbani was a 3-year-old Palestinian girl from the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. She lived with her family in the heart of Gaza, where childhood was often overshadowed by the ongoing blockade and repeated cycles of violence. Mariam, like many children in Gaza, was growing up in a community marked by resilience despite the hardships. Her short life was tragically cut short on May 12, 2021, when an Israeli missile struck her home, killing her along with her 5-year-old brother Zeid, during a wave of heavy bombardment on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Mariam Mohammad Odah at-Tilbani was born in Gaza City, in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, and was only three years old at the time of her death. She belonged to a family enduring the daily struggles of life under siege, where access to safety, security, and basic resources was scarce. Despite her young age, Mariam was a beloved daughter and sister, remembered by her family and community as an innocent soul whose life was filled with the laughter and tenderness of early childhood. On May 12, 2021, during the third consecutive day of Israeli bombardment, her life and that of her 5-year-old brother Zeid came to a sudden and devastating end when their home was struck by a missile. They were among at least twenty Palestinians killed that day as Israeli warplanes targeted homes, residential buildings, and civilian infrastructure across Gaza. Mariam’s death highlighted once again the heavy toll of war on children, who are among the most vulnerable in times of armed conflict.

How they died

Mariam was killed by an Israeli missile strike on her family home in Gaza City.

On May 12, 2021, Israeli warplanes launched heavy missile attacks across the Gaza Strip, targeting civilian homes, residential neighborhoods, and infrastructure. Mariam’s home in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood was directly struck by a missile, resulting in her immediate death along with her 5-year-old brother Zeid. The attack was part of a broader bombardment campaign that left dozens of Palestinians dead, including children, women, and the elderly. Mariam’s cause of death was the result of severe injuries sustained from the explosion, which destroyed parts of her family’s home and left her with no chance of survival.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Mariam Mohammad at-Tilbani, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources