Gaza journalist Yahya Sobeih killed in Israeli air strike hours after welcoming newborn daughter
The strike occurred five hours after Sobeih witnessed the birth of his daughter, Sana, leaving his wife, Amal, unable to say goodbye while recovering from surgery.
An Israeli air strike targeting a commercial area in central Gaza City on 7 May 2025 resulted in the death of Yahya Sobeih, a journalist, and at least 16 other individuals. The attack claimed the lives of Sobeih's cousin, closest friend, and brother-in-law, who had been in the hospital earlier that day congratulating him on the birth of his daughter.
The incident occurred with tragic timing, five hours after Sobeih welcomed his newborn daughter, Sana, into the world. He was killed while distributing sweets to relatives celebrating the birth in the hospital vicinity. His wife, Amal, survived the incident but was unable to say goodbye to him while recovering from emergency surgery following the delivery.
Amal Sobeih has since taken up work with the same media company her husband previously worked for, aiming to continue his message while raising their three children alone. The family was displaced to southern Gaza in September 2025 following a ground operation in Gaza City, where they sought shelter under harsh conditions with a four-month-old baby and two young boys.
The strike also wounded dozens more people in the area. This event occurred amidst a period of renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza City, which previously resulted in the death of a Hamas negotiator's son and serious injuries to senior officials within the leadership.
Amal describes the past 12 months since her husband's death as a year of grief, noting she has battled both the ongoing military conflict and the struggle of single parenthood. She previously lost her brother, his wife, and three children, as well as her sister and four children, in Israeli attacks.
