Sham Shublaq

Their life

Sham Shublaq, only five years old, was the beloved daughter of humanitarian worker and psychologist Tasneem Shublaq. Growing up in Gaza, Sham’s early years were overshadowed by repeated conflict, displacement, and the loss of her older brother Muslam in a previous airstrike. Despite the harsh realities of war, Sham was known within her family for her innocence and tender spirit, embodying hope for a future free from violence. Her young life was tragically cut short alongside her mother and younger brother, leaving behind a family devastated by unimaginable loss.

Born in Gaza in 2020, Sham was the eldest daughter of Tasneem and her husband. She spent her short life amid the uncertainty and destruction brought about by the ongoing war. Sham’s life reflected both the resilience and fragility of Gaza’s children, growing up in an environment where safety was never guaranteed. She had already endured the loss of her brother Muslam, killed in an airstrike in 2024, an event that profoundly shaped her family’s grief. On 20 September 2025, Sham was killed with her mother, Tasneem, and younger brother, Suleiman, when an Israeli airstrike hit their home in Gaza City. Her father survived but remains critically injured. Sham’s death is not only a personal tragedy but also a reminder of the devastating impact of war on Gaza’s youngest generation, who are robbed of their right to live, play, and dream.

How they died

Sham was killed in an Israeli airstrike on 20 September 2025.

The fatal attack occurred during an Israeli bombardment on Gaza City that directly struck the premises of Oxfam’s partner organization, Juzoor for Health and Community Development, where her mother worked. The strike claimed the lives of Sham, her pregnant mother Tasneem, and her three-year-old brother Suleiman. Sham’s father was severely wounded. Her death reflects the broader pattern of civilian and humanitarian casualties during the war, in which homes, medical centers, and aid workers have repeatedly been targeted despite international calls for protection under humanitarian law.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Sham Shublaq, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources