Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0350

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

قرب صالة السعادة, Vicinity of Al Saada Hall, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.327397, 34.289671 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 18th 2023, at least four civilians, including three women, were reported killed, and dozens of civilians were reported injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Ashour family home near the al-Saada Hall, south of Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip.

Initial reports from local and social media including Safa News, Ma’a News Agency, al-Ray News, Mawtani Radio, and al-Aqsa Voice stated that four were killed, including three women, and that there were “dozens of injuries” in the bombing. A source on social media, Tayseer Ashour, posted that a “number of members” of the Ashour family were killed, attributing the strikes to Israeli forces. Wafa News reported that medical teams and civilian rescue efforts had recovered the bodies of “a number of martyrs and wounded from two homes belonging to the Mahfouz and Ashour families in the city of Khan Yunis” – it is unclear if the casualties from the Mahfouz family were as a result of this alleged strike.

Only one source attributed the strike to Israeli forces, therefore Airwars had graded the Strike Status as a “Single Source Claim”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Al Saada Hall (صالة السعادة) south of the city of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.327397, 34.289671. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]