Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0451

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

النصيرات, Nuseirat camp, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.450065, 34.392934 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Sunday evening October 22nd, 2023, at least 48 civilians, including at least 24 children and 11 women, were killed and at least three children were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the house of Dr. Khaled al-Bayaa, located west of Nuseirat camp in the Gaza Strip. Dr. al-Bayaa was killed alongside his wife, their eight children and six grandchildren, and was survived by only two of his grandchildren, Dareen and Kenan. Ten children were reported missing after the strike.

The bombing was first reported just before 9pm, and was said to have resulted in injuries and numerous casualties, with reports indicating that dozens of victims, including fatalities, were trapped under the rubble in the hours following the strike. Urgent appeals were made through various sources, including the Shehab Agency and Abdul Rahman al-Abadla, calling for ambulances and civil defense to assist in the aftermath of the attack. A Twitter/X user @HaidarAkarar wrote that the civilans who were killed and wounded were rushed to were rushed to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

The victims were all identified as members of the Al-Bayaa family. Relatives and friends shared messages online mourning the loss of their loved ones.

The incident prompted expressions of grief from the community, with posts mourning the deaths of family members, including children. A comprehensive list of names was provided by the Facebook user Ayman Salama, detailing the individuals who lost their lives in the bombing, as well as those injured. Ayman Salama added that ten children were missing.

61-year Dr. Khaled Saeed Salamah al-Bayaa was killed alongside his wife, 56-year old A’mal Ghulam Al-Din al-Bayaa, their eight children and six grandchildren. Specifically, the couple lost their 35-year old son Mohamed Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa,  30-year old son Hamed Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa, 21-year old son Hassan Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa, and 19-year old son Salah Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa as well as four daughters: Sumaya Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa (40), Heba Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa Kabaja (37), Iman Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa (possibly 28), and Amina Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa.

Hamed Khaled Al-Bayaa was remembered in the Facebook testimonies by Anas Saidam and Ahmed Al-Deraw who called him their brother and friend. He is seen in the images below as a young smiling man with his son and with a friend.

Among the grandchildren, two sons of Mohammed al-Bayaa — 11-year old Suhaib Mohammed Khaled al-Bayaa and 13-year old Khaled Mohammad Khaled al-Bayaa — were killed along with their sisters, Mohammed’s daughters — Amal Mohammad Khaled al-Bayaa (possibly 9-10) and 2-year old Tuleen Muhammad Khaled al-Bayaa. Among the grandchildren of Khaled and Amal who were killed were also two of Hamid’s children: his son Karam Hamid Khaled al-Bayaa (4) and daughter Carmel Hamid Khaled al-Bayaa (2).

58-year old Walid Saeed Salamah al-Bayaa and his wife 54/55-year old Itidal Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa were killed along with their two sons, Ahmed Walid Saeed al-Bayaa (possibly 22-23), Anas Walid Saeed al-Bayaa and daughter Hanaa Walid Saeed al-Bayaa (22). Their son Kenan Anas Walid al-Bayaa (child) and 11-year old daughter Dareen Anas Walid al-Bayaa were injured.

A’mal Al-Bayaa and Itidal Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa’s two sisters, Hiyam Ghulam al-Din al-Hindi al-Sayeed (50) and Khitam Ghulam al-Din al-Hindi, were also killed.

According to a tweet by the New York Times, eleven-year-old Dareen al-Bayaa, a survivor, lost dozens of her family members in the airstrike. Dareen survived along with her brother Kenan, but lost her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. In a video shared by user Nuha (devotedly.yours) on Tiktok, the injured Dareen was telling her story in tears. A small scar on her cheek and a large scar on her forehead could be seen.

Dareen said that her mother, her father, both of her grandmothers and grandfathers Khaled and Anas were killed while they were staying in their house, and only she and her brother survived. She added that Israeli forces did not tell civilians to evacuate and bombed them while they were staying in the house.

The attack also took the lives of the late Hanaa’s husband, Saher Saeed al-Sayed (29), his brother Ahmed Saeed al-Sayed (12), and the children of Hana and Saher, two daughters Najma Saher al-Sayed (3) and Maymouna Saher al-Sayed, possibly less than a year old. According to the list by Ayman Salam, Najma and Maymouna were both children.

Saher, Ahmed and Hana and their children were mentioned in the condolence message posted on Facebook by the brother of Saher and Ahmed, Taher Saeed Al-Sayed. He attached some images of the victims to his post. They were also mentioned in a tribute written by Maher El Sayed.

A cousin of the Facebook user Izzeddin Khaled, Hossam Walid Kabaja, was killed along with his two daughters Rahaf Hossam Walid Kabaja (possibly 15-16) and Sama Hossam Walid Kabaja. Both girls have been described as under 18. His son Walid Hossam Walid Kabaja (possibly 8-9), and brother Abdul Aziz Walid Kabaja (possibly 18-19) were also killed. Hossam’s daughter, Roa Hossam Walid Kabaja (13) was reported as injured but due to the inclusion of their name in the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities, they likely died from their injuries. Izzeddin Khaled wrote his tribute to the late Hossam and his family.

Izzeddin Khaled also mentioned his other cousin, Muhammad Muhammad Ahmed Bahr who was killed along with his three sons: Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed Bahr, Moamen Muhammad Ahmed Bahr, and Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmed Bahr, and his two daughters: Moslima Muhammad Ahmed Bahr (possibly 15-16) and Mona Muhammad Ahmed Bahr. All of them except Mona were under the age of 18. He also mentioned that Mona’s children were killed. Presumably her children were the two twin girls, Farah Hammam Youssef Bahr and Marah Hammam Youssef Bahr. Both girls were possibly under a year old.

Among the victims killed were also four siblings: 7-year-old Malik Ahmed al-Shayah, Miral Ahmed al-Shayah, 5-year-old Nesma Ahmed al-Shayah, and Muhammad Ahmed al-Shayah.

Social media testimonies mentioned a child Walid Anas al-Bayaa (possibly 8-9), Safaa Talal al-Bayaa (possibly 32-33) and a 56-year-old woman Amal Muhammad Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa among the killed, and a child Areej Abdullah Salim Abdeen among the injured.

Some of those killed were reportedly family members of Hamas Commander Abu Hamza al-Hindi who appeared to have been killed in a separate incident. In a photograph from Facebook user Maher El Sayed, he can be seen with a gun. Another individual, younger looking than al-Hindi, appears to be in police uniform. As this is not an indication of militant status, Airwars has not included a belligerent in our range – though we will update this should further information come to light.

Airwars was able to identify the names of 47 people killed in the strike, however a post from Abu Ismail Al-Bayaa identified “more than 70 martyrs” in the attack on their uncle Khaled’s house. The upper casualty range has therefore been estimated as 71 fatalities.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023. Other ages have come from the Shireen fatalities list; some of these specify different dates of death, though the names are exactly the same. In this case, ages have been marked as “possibly.” It is possible their deaths were discovered on this later date, or that they had been buried under rubble until then.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Israeli forces.

The incident occured at approximately 8:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (17)

Khaled Saeed Salamah al-Bayaa خالد سعيد سالم البياع
61 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 944157676
A’mal Muhammad Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa امال غلام الدين البياع
56 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 944335686
Mohamed Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa محمد خالد سعيد البياع
35 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802092825
Suhaib Mohammed Khaled al-Bayaa صهيب محمد خالد البياع
11 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 433248382
Khaled Mohammad Khaled al-Bayaa خالد محمد خالد البياع
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 431289248
Amal Mohammad Khaled al-Bayaa امال محمد خالد البياع
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434791851
Tuleen Muhammad Khaled al-Bayaa تولين محمد خالد البياع
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445603111
Hamid Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa حميد خالد سعيد البياع
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804494565
Karam Hamid Khaled al-Bayaa كرم حميد خالد البياع
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 442886388
Carmel Hamid Khaled al-Bayaa كرمل حميد خالد البياع
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444305445
Hassan Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa حسن خالد سعيد البياع
21 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407974658
Salah Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa صلاح خالد سعيد البياع
19 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 409660271
Sumaya Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa سمية خالد سعيد البياع
40 years old female Bahr killed Matched to MoH ID 800336497
Heba Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa هبة خالد سعيد البياع
37 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800601106
Iman Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa ايمان خالد سعيد البياع
28 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 400862355
Amina Khaled Saeed al-Bayaa امنة خالد سعيد البياع
Age unknown female killed
Walid Anas al-Bayaa وليد انس البياع
8 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 435160635

Family members (11)

Walid Saeed Salamah al-Bayaa وليد سعيد سلامة البياع
58 years old male killed
Itidal Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa اعتدال غلام الدين البياع
54 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 944335694
Ahmed Walid Saeed al-Bayaa احمد وليد سعيد البياع
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 412628547
Anas Walid Saeed al-Bayaa انس وليد سعيد البياع
Age unknown male killed
Dareen Anas Walid al-Bayaa دارين انس وليد سعيد البياع
11 years old female injured
Kanan Anas Walid al-Bayaa كنان انس وليد سعيد البياع
Child male injured
Hanaa Walid Saeed al-Bayaa هناء وليد سعيد الباع
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 412628521
Saher Saeed al-Sayed زوج هناء ساهر سعيد السيد
29 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400800447
Najma Saher al-Sayed نجمة ساهر السعيد
3 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444986178
Maymouna Saher al-Sayed ميمونة ساهر السيد
0.6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444233779
Ahmed Saeed al-Sayed احمد سعيد السيد
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 433178332

Family members (6)

Hossam Walid Kabaja حسام وليد ع كباجة
Adult male killed
Rahaf Hossam Walid Kabaja رهف حسام وليد كباجة
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 425929874
Walid Hossam Walid Kabaja وليد حسام وليد كباجة
8 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 435130182
Sama Hossam Walid Kabaja سما حسام وليد كباجة
Child female killed
Roa Hossam Walid Kabaja روئ حسام وليد كباجة
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 431315084
Abdul Aziz Walid Kabaja عبد العزيز وليد كباجة
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421146721

Family members (2)

Hiyam Ghulam Al-Din al-Hindi هيام غلام الدين البياع
50 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 929554947
Khitam Ghulam al-Din al-Hindi ختام غلام الدين البياع
Adult female killed

Family members (8)

Muhammad Muhammad Ahmed Bahr محمد احمد بحر
Adult male killed
Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed Bahr احمد محمد احمد بحر
Child male killed
Moamen Muhammad Ahmed Bahr مؤمن محمد احمد بحر
Child male killed
Moslima Muhammad Ahmed Bahr مسلمة محمد احمد بحر
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 426160289
Mona Muhammad Ahmed Bahr منى محمد احمد بحر
Adult female killed
Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmed Bahr محمود محمد احمد بحر
Child male killed
Farah Hammam Youssef Bahr فرح همام يوسف بحر
0.6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444043442
Marah Hammam Youssef Bahr مرح همام يوسف بحر
0.6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444043301

Family members (4)

Malik Ahmed al-Shayah مالك احمد الشياح
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437105356
Miral Ahmed al-Shayah ميرال احمد الشياح
Child female killed
Nesma Ahmed al-Shayah نسمة أحمد الشياح
5 years old killed Matched to MoH ID 440631745
Muhammad Ahmed al-Shayah محمد أحمد الشياح
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Areej Abdullah Salim Abdeen اريج عبدالله سالم عبدين
Child male injured
Safaa Talal al-Bayaa صفاء طلال البياع
32 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803212299
Amal Muhammad Ghulam al-Din al-Bayaa امل محمد البياع
56 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 944335686

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Nuseirat (النصيرات) camp, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.450065, 34.392934. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    48 – 71
  • (24–25 children11 women12–13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Anas Saidam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al-Derawi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Taher Saeed Al-Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Taher Saeed Al-Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Taher Saeed Al-Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maher El Sayed

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    48 – 71
  • (24–25 children11 women12–13 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]