Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0476

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

القرارة, Al Qarara, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.371329, 34.335281 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around 19:00 in the evening of Sunday, October 22, 2023, the home of the Abu Habis family in Al-Qarara located northeast of Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, was allegedly bombed by the Israeli military, resulting in five civilians killed, including at least three women, and a number of injuries.

A man in his 40s named Rabie Khamees Abdullah Abu Habis was killed alongside his wife Mervat Ali-Behairi Abu Habis, his mother, his sister and his niece whose names and ages are unknown. Rabie Abu Habis was the last one to be recovered from under the rubble of the family house. A post from Maher Al Hijazi reported that the bodies of those killed were taken to Nasser Hospital and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Journalist Abdul Rahman Al-Abadla reported that in addition to the five people who had been killed and recovered from the rubble, there were “a number of injuries” but did not specify how many.

Family members and friends of the Abu Habis family made heartfelt tributes and shared their grief over the loss of the loved ones. A family relative Abu Fayez expressed his condolences and shared an image of the late Rabie, a smiling middle-aged man in a red Lacoste T-shirt and a cap.

Rabie’s name was matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

Where the sources identified the belligerent, sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

The incident occured at approximately 7:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Rabei Khamis Abu Habis ربيع خميس ابو حبيس
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 905384806
Mervat Ali Al-Behairi Abu Habis ميرفت علي البحيري ابو خميس
Adult female killed
Mother of Rabei Khamis Abu Habis ام ربيع خميس ابو حبيس
Adult female killed
Sister of Rabei Khamis Abu Habis اخت ربيع خميس ابو حبيس
Adult female killed
Niece of Rabie ابنت اخت ربيع
female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Qarara (القرارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.371329, 34.335281. 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
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (0–1 children3–4 women1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: The pulse of Al-Qarara 'continues with you'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The pulse of Al-Qarara 'continues with you'
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The predatory falcon Abu Yazan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The predatory falcon Abu Yazan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The predatory falcon Abu Yazan

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
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (0–1 children3–4 women1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]