'Mother of Martyrs'. A Palestinian lawmaker known as the 'mother of martyrs' after three of her sons died in attacks against Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip was also known as Umm Nidal. Mariam Farhat was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006. Four years earlier, her 17-year-old son, Mohammad, was shot to death after he stormed an Israeli settlement with an automatic rifle and explosives, killing five students. Shortly before the attack, she made a video in which she appeared with her son to show support for what he was about to do. Two more of her sons, Nidal and Rawad, were later killed in clashes with Israel. Mariam Farhat was popular among young women in Hamas, though she said that not all of them should try to emulate her. Mariam Farhat who survived three Israeli airstrikes on her house between 2006 and 2010 was born in Gaza City. She died of liver and bowel diseases. Her funeral was attended by thousands of Palestinians including Hamas Prime Minister.