Umm Nidal (Arabic: أم نضال, lit. "Mother of Nidal") is an Arabic teknonym, a name derived from the name of a child, used to refer to a woman who is the mother of a son named Nidal. The given name "Nidal" itself means "struggle" or "fight" in Arabic.
In a widely recognized and significant context, "Umm Nidal" primarily refers to Mariam Farhat (1949 – 2013), a prominent Palestinian political figure and member of the Hamas movement. Born in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City, she rose to prominence as a symbolic figure of Palestinian resistance, particularly known for her vocal support and encouragement of her sons to participate in armed struggle against Israel.
Farhat became known as "the mother of martyrs" due to the involvement of her sons in the conflict. Three of her sons were killed in operations against Israeli forces: one during an Israeli raid, and two in suicide attacks. A fourth son was arrested and imprisoned by Israeli authorities. Her home in Gaza was repeatedly subjected to raids and demolition by Israeli forces due to her activities and her sons' involvement.
She was elected as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in 2006, representing the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform bloc, and served until her death in 2013. Her public endorsement of armed resistance and her personal sacrifices of her sons made her a highly revered figure within certain segments of Palestinian society, while also being a controversial figure internationally. Her funeral in Gaza was a large public event, attended by many Palestinians.