Mariam Mohammad at-Tilbani
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.
Biography
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.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Mariam Mohammad Odah at-Tilbani, 3, and her brother Zeid, 5, were killed by a missile that struck their home in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, in Gaza City. They were among at least twenty Palestinians killed on May 12th during the third straight day of ongoing bombardment and shelling targeting all parts of the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip. The Israeli missiles struck homes, residential buildings, infrastructure, streets, and many other facilities. Israeli missiles targeted Palestinians and buildings in one of the alleys of the Nusseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza. Three Palestinians were killed in the airstrike, and one was wounded and was taken to the nearby Al-Aqsa Hospital. In addition, Palestinian medics and rescue teams found the corpse of one Palestinian under the rubble of a building in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. Two Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes on the building, and the third is the one whose corpse was found today.1 israelpalestinetimeline.org Open source