Wafaa Yousef Nabil Akila

Their life

Wafaa Yousef Nabil Akila was a young Palestinian schoolgirl from Gaza. She returned to school on the first day of the new academic year on 7 September 2026, after a prolonged interruption to education caused by the war. Photographs circulated showing her smiling in her blue school uniform and giving a thumbs-up. After completing her school day, she accompanied her father, Youssef Nabil Rabah Akila, while travelling in a vehicle. The vehicle was struck by an Israeli drone in western Gaza City, killing Wafaa and her father. Her death became a poignant example of the danger faced by Palestinian children attempting to return to education amid the continuing conflict.

Wafaa Yousef Nabil Akila was a Palestinian child whose return to school lasted only a few hours. On the morning of 7 September 2026, she attended her first day of the new school year wearing her blue school uniform and carrying the school supplies associated with the beginning of a new academic year. After school, she travelled with her father, Youssef Nabil Rabah Akila. Their vehicle was struck by an Israeli drone in western Gaza City near the Hamid intersection. Wafaa was killed in the attack alongside her father, while six other Palestinians were wounded. Images from the scene showed her schoolbooks and supplies scattered among the charred remains of the vehicle. Her death drew attention to the contrast between the ordinary hopes of a child returning to school and the continuing dangers facing civilians in Gaza. Her uncle Rabah Akila described Wafaa as a major source of joy for her father and “the flower of the house,” and recalled how eagerly she had prepared her school supplies and looked forward to returning to school

How they died

Wafaa Yousef Nabil Akila was killed after the vehicle in which she was travelling with her father, Youssef Nabil Rabah Akila, was struck by an Israeli drone in western Gaza City. According to the supplied reports, the attack occurred after Wafaa had completed her first day back at school and was travelling with her father. The strike killed Wafaa and her father and wounded six other Palestinians.

Wafaa was killed on 7 September 2026, hours after attending the first day of the new school year. She and her father were travelling in a vehicle in western Gaza City when an Israeli drone struck the car near the Hamid intersection. Medical officials at Al-Shifa Hospital reported that Wafaa and her father were killed and that six other Palestinians were wounded. Images from the aftermath reportedly showed Wafaa's schoolbooks and school supplies scattered across the burned wreckage of the vehicle.

A plea from the family

Wafaa's uncle, Rabah Akila, expressed the family's shock and grief following the deaths of his brother Youssef and Wafaa. He said that Wafaa had been a great source of happiness for her father and described her as “the flower of the house.” He recalled that she had eagerly prepared for her school day and had chosen her school supplies herself. According to the supplied account, the family questioned why they had been killed when they were simply travelling home, with Wafaa's younger brothers waiting for her. Rabah also referred to her books, which were found open and stained with blood and shrapnel, and questioned the circumstances that led to the killing of his brother and niece.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Wafaa Yousef Nabil Akila, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources