During the afternoon of October 10th 2023, six civilians, most of whom were children, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Aslim family home, located in the al-Suja’iya neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. Alaa Ahmed Zaino (30) and her children, Yahya Muhannad Sami Aslim (12), Hala Muhannad Sami Aslim (10), Majda Muhannad Sami Aslim (5), and Anas Muhannad Sami Aslim (3) were killed, along with Fadl al-Sayyid Aslim (35).

On October 11th, Mezan News reported that “in Gaza, [Israeli] aircraft launched dozens of raids on residential neighborhoods that continued until this morning [which] coincided with intense bombardment by artillery and naval battleships. The bombardment destroyed many homes and residential buildings, on the heads of their residents, the families of Tatar, Aslim, Marouf, Abu Shamala, Ashour, and al-Nafar…[and] the raids resulted in the deaths of 57 citizens, including 20 children and 11 women, while the event is still unfolding with dozens under the rubble.” On October 10th, the Iktisad al-Balad Facebook page reported that “a number of witnesses were extracted from the house of the Aslim family that was targeted this afternoon in al-Suja’iya neighborhood, east Gaza.” The page also shared a photo from the site of the alleged attack, showing home appliances, mattresses, clothing and other personal belongings scattered across a crater which is surrounded by residential buildings. A group of people are gathered along the edge of the debris field.

Following the alleged Israeli airstrike, numerous loved ones paid their respects to the victims online. Mourning the death of Alaa Ahmed Zeino and her children, Facebook user Um Salmi wrote “I offer my sincere condolences on the martyrdom of my cousin Alaa Zeino (Yahya Aslim’s mother) and her children. May God bless your heart, my cousin’s wife, and my cousins’ sons and daughters…May God have mercy on you, Om Yahya, who is dear to our hearts, and may you and your children live in the highest gardens of paradise.” Mohannad Sami shared his grief as well and offered his condolences to the surviving husband/father of the victims, in a post dedicated to “the memorizer of the Book of God, Yahya Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, Preserver of the Book of God, Hala Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, the baby girl Magda Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, Child Anas Muhannad Sami Aslim, their mother, Umm Yahya Aslim💔 Alaa Ahmed Zaino💔… May God give you patience, my dear cousin Abu Yahya. Your wife and children preceded you to Paradise. May God give you patience and strengthen you through your affliction.” Naji Esleem shared smiling photos of the children and infants who were killed, writing “after a while, funeral prayer for Yahya, Hala, Majda, Anas and their mother.”

Sharing a smiling photo of his relative Fadl al-Sayyid Aslim, Nidal Eslim shared that “my cousin, engineer Fadl al-Sayyid Khader Aslim, has passed away.” Raed Eslim posted the same photo and lamented the death of “my cousin and brother-in-law, engineer: Fazal al-Sayyid Aslim martyr. May God have mercy on you and cover you in His vast mercy.” Mohammed Abed Nasser wrote “the martyrdom of Engineer Fadl al-Sayyid Khader Aslim, my mother’s cousin, I swear you are one of the kindest personalities we know. May God have mercy on you and accept you in the gardens of bliss.“ A number of friends mourned Fadl’s passing as well. Sharing a smiling photo of himself with Fadl, Ahmad Nasser Abdallah wrote “I swear it’s early, my friend.. 💔 My friend and ten of my years, engineer / Fadl Al-Sayyed Islam.. a martyr.. 💔😥.” Adham al-Dahshan posted a charming photo of Fadl and expressed that “to the mercy and satisfaction of God, my friend, lover, and companion since childhood, Engineer/Fadl Sayed Aslim, Jannat al-Khald, my hero. May God accept you and admit you into His spacious Paradise, coming forward without delay, my beloved friend.”

The day after the incident, Mohammed Abo Omer shared the news that “my dear, dear friend, Engineer Fadl Aslim, has passed away. May God have mercy on you and be good to you.”

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

All names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of victims released October 26, 2023.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the afternoon.