Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0513

Incident date

October 23, 2023

Location

أبراج الصالحي, al Salhi Towers, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.456488, 34.392378 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon of October 23, 2023, the al-Salhi Towers were allegedly bombed in an Israeli airstrike, killing at least five people, all women and children, and injuring at least 36 others. The residential apartments in Nuseirat Refugee Camp in the Central Gaza Strip were occupied when the bombing occurred.

Airwars researchers have identified the names of five people who were killed and five people who were injured. Following the incident, friends and family took to social media to share the news of the incident. 23-year-old Maysaa Saadoun (Hamdan) and her one-year-old son Wadih Ahmed Hamdan were killed in the incident. A video posted after the incident shows Wadih’s grandmother, Umm Ahmed Hamdan, hugging her grandson’s bodybag following his killing. Wadih had recently tasted chocolate, she said, for the first time.

Fidaa al-Lidawi was seriously injured in the bombing; according to a post by Facebook user Mahmoud Farajallah, Fidaa’s son, Muhammad Fidaa Al-Lidawi, sustained severe burns in the bombing, whilst Fidaa’s wife and daughter – 35-year-old Professor Rasha Muhammad Safi (Al-Lidawi) and 12-year-old Layan Fidaa Al-Lidawi – were killed in the incident. Sharing updates on Fidaa’s condition, friends and family shared photos and well wishes for his speedy recovery. Of these, many highlighted how Fidaa, pictured as a clown entertaining several children, was “the beloved of children and millions” who “drew the smiles and joy on the faces of children”.

Following the incident, Facebook user Moataz Ali Abu Shawish shared the news that his father, family, and brother, Kamal Abu Ali, and his family were alive after “God saved them” from the bombardment. Another post by Facebook user Emad J. Abushawiesh  clarified that Kamal Ali Abu Shawish, Kamal Ali’s family, and Emad J. Abu Shawish’s grandfather were moderately wounded with bruises and wounds.

Dr. Adan Abu Amer sustained fractures and injuries in the incident. Adan’s son, Muhammad Adan Abu Amer, was also injured in the incident and was taken to intensive care, where his situation remained critical. Sadly, Adan lost his young grandson, two-year-old Jihad Khaled Abu Amer, in the incident. Months after the bombing, Jihad’s parents, Khaled Abu Amer and Nashwa Adan, posted tributes to their son, highlighting the difficulty of losing him. Writing on November 25, 2023, Jihad’s father, Khaled Abu Amer, remembered his son’s “sweet voice [which makes] my ears happy when you call me daddy.” Khaled and Nashwa had returned to their home the day previously, and the memory of Jihad was rife: “you, my beloved, are still present in my heart and my conscience.” In a post from January 25, 2024, Nashwa shared how she missed Jojo’s (Jihad’s) voice, the sound of his laugh, and how she missed playing with him and his cars. In February 2024, Nashwa remembered, “For three consecutive days before your [death], you were telling me how much you loved me.. I did not know that you were saying goodbye to me, and how could I know…”

Five months after his death, Nashwa shared how losing her child on that day was “the most painful day she had witnessed in this brutal war and her life.”

Kamal Abu Shawish shared a post on Facebook noting that two missiles hit the house. According to a post on Facebook by the Health and Community Return Association – Awda, 36 injuries, many of which were children, were taken to Al Awda Hospital, and 28 received care in the emergency department as well as the reception of the hospital; of these, 6 cases were transferred to the Al-Aqsa Hospital. Images attached to social media posts exemplified the casualty toll. Photographs shared by Awda show multiple children receiving medical care.

Pictures taken of the aftermath show the extensive destruction wrought on the home: several of Fidaa’s clown costumes can be seen amongst the debris.

Airwars has matched all names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

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

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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Maysaa Saadoun (Hamdan) ميساء سعدون (حمدان)
23 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 405932195
Wadih Ahmed Hamdan وديع أحمد حمدان
1 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445860489

Family members (4)

Fidaa al-Lidawi فداء اللداوي
Adult male injured
Rasha Muhammad Safi (Al-Lidawi) رشا محمد صافي
35 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 801258997
Layan Fidaa Al-Lidawi ليان فداء اللداوي
12 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 432304665
Muhammad Fidaa Al-Lidawi محمد فداء اللداوي
Child male injured

Family members (4)

Kamal Ali Abu Shawish كمال علي ابو شاويش
Adult male injured
Family of Kamal Ali Abu Shawish عائلة كمال علي ابو شاويش
injured
Family of Kamal Ali Abu Shawish عائلة كمال علي ابو شاويش
injured
Emad J. Abu Shawish's grandfather
Adult male injured

Family members (3)

Adnan Abu Amer عدنان ابو عامر
Adult male injured
Muhammad Abu Amer محمد ابو عامر
injured
Jihad Khaled Abu Amer جهاد خالد ابو عامر
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445564248

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Salhi Towers (أبراج الصالحي) in Nuseirat (النصيرات). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.456488, 34.392378.

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  • Imagery:
    Emad j abushawiesh

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    36
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (50) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (52) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: @sajjad_seifdine
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    Source: Al-nusseirat new
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    Source: Al-nusseirat new
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Omar m alhour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestine tv
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Emad j abushawiesh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Emad j abushawiesh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Emad j abushawiesh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Atiya abu jamal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rami j abushawesh
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    Source: Karam n samsom
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    Source: Karam n samsom
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abo kaled
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    Source: Osama matar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Majed kallub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser abu marshoud
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad ismail al-hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kamal abu shawish
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kamal abu shawish
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kamal abu shawish
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-nusseirat new
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    Source: Abu al hasan abu salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu al hasan abu salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu al hasan abu salem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nashwa adnan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khaled abu amer
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khaled abu amer
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khaled abu amer
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nashwa adnan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nashwa adnan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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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
    5
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    36
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (50) [ collapse]