Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0452

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

طلال السلطان, Tal al Sultan, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.310318, 34.241843 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Israeli bombardment killed at least 25 civilians, including members of the Tabasi, al-Hams and Abu Younis families, on the 22nd of October 2023, in the Tal Al-Sultan area in the west of Rafah in Gaza. The number of injured civilians remains unknown and some were still stuck under the rubble at the time of the reporting. The airstrike took place shortly before 12:23PM when Shehab Agency reported it.

Journalist Adel Zourub provided the names of many of those killed: 60-year-old Mahmoud Ahmed Musa Tabasi, along with his daughter Joan Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi and sons, 33-year-old Ahmed Mahmoud Musa Tabasi, 39-year-old Ghassan Mahmoud Musa Tabasi, and 41-year-old Talat Mahmoud Musa Tabasi. Talat’s 12-year-old son, Musa Talaat Mahmoud Tabasi, was also killed.

Others from the Tabasi family were killed, named as Ahmed Musa Musa Tabasi, and 5-year-old Adam Muhammad Ahmed Tabasi. Mohammed Salman Tabasi identified the child Musa Raed Tabasi among those killed; another child, 3-year-old Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi, was named by Adel Zourub.

Nufal al Akhras added names of the dead who were identified at Emirati Hospital: 9-year-old Amina Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi and her one-year-old sister Sour Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi. 

Shaima Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (41) was killed, along with her children, daughters Sarah Hani Samir Al-Hams (13), Huda Hani Samir al-Hams (11) and Malak Hani Samir al-Hams (18). Shaima’s husband Dr. Hani al-Hams posted a memorial for his wife and children, adding that their son Omar Hani al-Hams was still missing under the rubble at the time. There was no further reporting on whether Omar was killed or injured or survived unscathed, but his name was not found on the Ministry of Health list.

Other members of the Abu Younis family who were killed include Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (34), Asmaa Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (26), and Taher Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (39). Based on their names, it is likely that they were siblings of Shaima.  A child named Sila Zafer Ahmed Al-Hams, likely a one year old based on the Ministry of Health list (but last name is listed as Abu Younis, which would likely make her the child of Zafer) was also killed.

According to the Kuwait Specialized Hospital, Hamdi Ismail al-Zahar (40) was reportedly killed alongside eight-year-old Saqr Ahmed Ismail al-Zahar while another source mentioned that Hamdi’s son was also killed. A post from Hassan Al-Zahar Abu Said identified Hamdi’s nephew “Ahmed” as among those killed and stated that Saqr was Hamdi’s son (although the names do not indicate this).

Ahmed Abdel Aziz Abu Khatla and 34-year-old Magda Gamal Ibrahim Aram.

At the time of reporting, it appeared there were still others unaccounted for under the rubble.

Fadi al-Arawi posted a condolence message for his “brother and friend” Talaat Tabasi while Journalist Adel Zourub posted a graphic image of a dead child identified as Musa Raed Tabasi. Additional condolence messages were posted by various other family members and friends.

Some of the victims of the attack were brought to the al-Kuwaiti and al-Najjar hospitals as noted in Firas Abu Sharkh’s post. Multiple other outlets noted the bodies were brought to the Emirati Hospital, including those of injured people without specifying a toll. Images of men praying in front of one of the bodies of the victims in a mosque were released as well as doctors praying in front of the Kuwaiti hospital in front of the victims who had arrived at the hospital. Rescue teams reported that others were still stuck under the rubble meaning there may yet be more unidentified casualties. Furthermore, many people were unidentifiable due to the mutilation of their bodies once they arrived at the Emirati hospital.

Where sources specified the belligerent, all sources attributed the airstrike to the Israeli military.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

The incident occured at approximately 12:20 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Mahmoud Ahmed Musa Tabasi محمود احمد موسى طباسي
60 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 963958061
Ahmed Mahmoud Musa Tabasi احمد محمود موسى طباسي
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802657015
Joan Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi جوان محمود موسى طباسي
Adult female killed
Ghassan Mahmoud Musa Tabasi غسان محمود موسى طباسي
39 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800376956
Talaat Mahmoud Musa Tabasi طلعت محمود موسى طباسي
41 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 931505036
Musa Talaat Mahmoud Tabasi موسى طلعت محمود طباسي
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430534784
Ahmed Musa Musa Tabasi احمد موسى موسى طباسي
Age unknown male killed
Adam Muhammad Ahmed Tabasi ادم محمد احمد طباسي
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440693257
Musa Raed Tabasi موسى رائد طباسي
Child male killed
Amina Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi امنة فؤاد محمود طباسي
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434758074
Sour Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi سوار فؤاد محمود طباسي
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444412522
Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi أحمد محمود أحمد طباسي
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 443130489

Family members (3)

Saqr Ahmed Ismail al-Zahar صقر أحمد اسماعيل الزهار
8 years old male Matched to MoH ID 435184544
Ahmed احمد
Child killed
Hamdi Ismail al-Zahar حمدي اسماعيل علي الزهار
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 926731399

Family members (10)

Sila zafer Ahmed Al-Hams سيلة ظافر احمد الهمص
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444470900
Asmaa Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis اسماء احمد خميس ابو يونس
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403114895
Taher Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis طاهر احمد خميس ابو يونس
39 years old male Matched to MoH ID 800322216
Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis ظافر أحمد خميس ابو يونس
34 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802231134
Shaima Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis شيماء احمد خميس ابو يونس
41 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 946692688
Sarah Hani Samir al-Hams سارة هاني سمير الهمص
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429625551
Malak Hani Samir al-Hams ملك هاني سمير الهمص
18 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422537266
Huda Hani Samir al-Hams هدى هاني سمير الهمص
11 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 432009009
Omar Hani Samir al-Hams عمر هاني سمير الهمص
Age unknown male
Sila Zafer Ahmed al-Hams سيلا احمد الهمص
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Abdel Aziz Abu Khatla احمد عبد العزيز ابو الختلة
Age unknown male killed
Magda Gamal Ibrahim Aram ماجدة جمال ابراهيم عرام
34 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802352724

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Tal al Sultan (طلال السلطان) to the west of Rafah (رفح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tal al Sultan are: 31.310318, 34.241843.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25
  • (11–13 children5 women7–9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jihad of the Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fadi Al-Arawi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kuwait Specialized Hospital
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Official journalist Adel Zourub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hassan Al-Zahar Abu Said
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hassan Al-Zahar Abu Said
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hassan Al-Zahar Abu Said
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Haitham Belbeis
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Diwan Al Zaroub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Diwan Al Zaroub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Diwan Al Zaroub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    25
  • (11–13 children5 women7–9 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (19) [ collapse]