Umm Nidal

Maryam Mohammad Yousif Farhat , or Mariam Farahat (24 December 1949 – 17 March 2013), more commonly known as Umm Nidal was a Palestinian activist known by Palestinians as the "Mother of Martyrs" for her support for her sons' involvement in attacks against Israel. Three of her sons were members of al-Qassam Brigades, who conducted or participated in the organisation of attacks against Israeli civilian and/or military targets and were killed by Israeli forces, while she was still alive. Two more sons, who were also members of al-Qassam, were killed in the Gaza war more than a decade after her death.

Farhat was a close associate of the Hamas leadership for over two decades. She had strong militant credentials, including an appearance carrying a gun in a video in which she advised one of her sons, Mohammed, on tactics before he attacked a Jewish settlement. She also was a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for Hamas. Farhat was one of the most prominent Islamist female leaders in Gaza and became an icon of the Second Intifada. She had ten brothers and five sisters, and married Fathi Farhat when she was in high school, becoming pregnant with her first child shortly after marriage.

Farhat had a total of ten children, and her six sons joined al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing.

Public attention Farhat came to public attention in 2002 after being filmed carrying a gun and advising her 17-year-old son Muhammad Farhat before the Atzmona attack on 7 March.

Political career Farhat ran as a candidate of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. Umm Nidal said:

"I protect my sons from defying Allah, or from choosing a path that would not please Allah. This is what I fear, when it comes to my sons. But as for sacrifice, Jihad for the sake of Allah, or performing the duty they were charged with - this makes me happy." (Referring to Israelis) "They are all occupiers. Besides, don't forget that they all serve in the army. They are all considered soldiers. They are all reserve soldiers." "They are all occupiers, and we must fight them by any legitimate means." "All means are legitimate as long as the occupation continues." "There is no difference. This is Islamic religious law. I don't invent anything. I follow Islamic religious law in this. A Muslim is very careful not to kill an innocent person, because he knows he would be destined to eternal Hell. So the issue is not at all simple. We rely on Islamic religious law when we say there is no prohibition on killing these people." "The word 'peace' does not mean the kind of peace we are experiencing. This peace is, in fact, surrender and a shameful disgrace. Peace means the liberation of all of Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. When this is accomplished - if they want peace, we will be ready. They may live under the banner of the Islamic state. That is the future of Palestine that we are striving towards."

Death Farhat died on 17 March 2013, aged 64, from multiple organ failure, in Gaza City. Her death was announced by al-Qassam Brigades.