Late at night on Monday, October 23rd 2023, at least 51 civilians spanning over three generations of the Al-Bahloul and al-Fasih families, including 13 women and 24 children, were killed and dozens of others were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a set of civilian homes in the Block 4 area of the Al Shati Camp, west of Gaza City in the Gaza Strip. Airwars has identified 51 civilians by name through testimonies provided by families on social media.

At 11:22 pm, the Palestinian Press Agency (Safa.ps) reported “martyrs and a large number of injured as a result of the Israeli bombing of several inhabited homes in al-Shati Camp, west of Gaza City, a short while ago.”

That night, the ‘al-Shati Camp’ Facebook page announced “a new massacre against al-Shati camp, affecting many homes, including the Bakr family, the Farhat family, al-Fasih, Sukkar, and Dabbash, and…there are many martyrs and injured.” The post featured a photo of a man with visible head wounds lying on a stretcher with at least one rescue worker beside him. It was unclear if the man was alive.

Following the attack, many loved ones mourned the victims online. Aisha Ali Hasan announced “I have received the news of the testimony of my cousin and her grandchildren…An entire family of more than 15 people. Your condolences to the al-Fasih family in Gaza’s al-Shati Camp.” Aisha also shared a picture of a handwritten list of “martyrs: my mother’s relatives, my aunt’s descendants, my aunt’s grandchildren, Umm Khalil, and her son Khalil’s descendants” explaining that “this is a list of martyrs from one family.”

Nahla Al Araby shared a video with the caption “Gaza this morning. A citizen was recovered from under the rubble after his house was bombed” showing rescuers trying to extract a person from a destroyed building. The post also included a list of “martyrs of the al-Shati Camp massacre on October 24 [from] the Bahloul family,” featuring 30 names, eight of whom are described as children. The ‘al-Shati Today’ Facebook account provided the same list of 30 names from the Bahloul family. D. Ahmad al-Bahloul also shared 30 “names of the martyrs of my family who rose to the highest level on 24/10/2023” and added that “Abdul Majeed Omar al-Bahloul is in a very dangerous condition.”

Al-Bahloul family

At least 30 members of the al-Bahloul family were killed in the attack.

Salim Abdul Majeed al-Bahloul (76) and his wife Etaf Shaaban al-Bahloul (72) were killed along with their daughter Ayat Salim al-Bahloul (34), and her children: a son Yamen Ahmad Dababesh (5) and daughter Youmna Ahmad Dababesh (5).

Relative Saleem al-Bahloul referred to Salim and Etaf– likely his grandparents–as “Hajj” and “Hajja,” meaning they completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. A photo of Salim in front of the Kaaba was attached.

On October 25th, Khaled Abu Salah shared a photo of two smiling children, writing “May God have mercy on you, Lord of the martyrs, my cousin’s wife and the children of my mother, Yamen Dababesh and her children, Yamen and Youmna, go to heaven, God willing.” The next day, relative Omar Dababesh wrote “Our lives pay the price for the arrogance of criminals against humanity, my grandchildren, Yamen Ahmed Omar Dababesh [and] Youmna Ahmed Omar Dababesh, my daughter-in-law, Aya Dababesh (before marriage it was Bahloul), what is the fault of these innocent people? Wars are the fighting of armies, not the killing of children.” On October 27th he wrote “Sleep soundly, O Yamen. Sleep peacefully, Youmna.”

Omar also shared photos of his grandchildren, Yamen and Youmna. In one picture, the children are posing in front of a Winnie the Pooh poster among others, and in another, they are dressed up in graduation caps and both hold diplomas celebrating their school accomplishments. Their grandfather also shared several selfies in which he and his grandchildren play together and smile for the camera.

Salim and Etaf’s son Deeb Salim al-Bahloul (48), his wife Manal Hamouda al-Bahloul (44), and their children, Tala Deeb al-Bahloul (11) and Mahmoud Deeb al-Bahloul (17) were also killed.

A few days after the strike, Hani Elhalabi expressed sorrow over the loss of “My second father/Deeb Salim al-Bahloul (Abu Muhammad), my mother who did not give birth to me / Manal al-Bahloul (Umm Muhammad), my little brother/ Mahmoud Deeb al-Bahloul, [and] my little sister/ Tala Deeb al-Bahloul.”

Salim and Etaf’s other grandchildren Amir Mustafa al-Bahloul (9) and his sister Mira Attaf Mustafa al-Bahloul (6) were also among the victims of the deadly strike.

Salim’s brother Omar Abdul Majeed al-Bahloul (60) and his wife Hanan Ibrahim al-Bahloul (56) also lost their lives in the incident, along with their son Moataz Omar al-Bahloul (15), their daughter Islam Omar al-Bahloul (33), and Islam’s son Bassem al-Damiati (10).

Omar and Hanan’s other son Khattab Omar al-Bahloul (34) was killed along with his wife Siham Khamees al-Bahloul (30), and their sons Omar Khattab al-Bahloul (9), Abdul Rahman Khattab al-Bahloul (6) and Ghaith Khattab al-Bahloul (1).

Rajai Ahmad al-Hafi shared a photo of Khattab Omar al-Bahloul wearing a suit and posing in front of a flowering vine, writing “Goodbye, Abu Omar, Goodbye, Khattab, Goodbye, my love, Goodbye, my dear, my dear…The brave hero martyr/Khattab Omar Al-Bahloul.”

Khamis Ibrahim al-Bahloul (43) was among the casualties alongside his wife Sherine Sobhi al-Bahloul (39) and their four children, namely, the two daughters Dina Khamis Al-Bahloul (19) and Nada Khamis al-Bahloul (18) and the two sons Musab Khamis Al-Bahloul (15)  and Al-Muatasem Khamis al-Bahloul (13).

Samaher Ahmed al-Bahloul (48) was killed alongside her son Ibrahim Khalil al-Bahloul (26) and her daughter Ghazal Khalil al-Bahloul (10).

A man named Abdul Majeed Omar al-Bahloul was also reportedly gravely injured.

Salim Abdul Majeed al-Bahloul and Etaf Shaaban al-Bahloul’s surviving son, Mustafa Saleem, mourned the deaths of his many family members, writing “it is with great pride […] that I present to you the martyrdom of my support and the crown of my head, my dear father, the spring of tenderness, and my heaven in this world, my dear mother. My soulmate is my dear brother Deeb Abu Muhammad and his children, his wife, the queen of tenderness and mercy, my sister Um Yamen, and her children. As I mourn for you those who took my soul and my heart with them, and after them I was at a loss for words. My beloved son, Sindi Amir Mustafa al-Bahloul [and] my beloved, Mira Attaf Mustafa al-Bahloul. As well as 20 people from the rest of the family.”

In the days and weeks following the alleged strike, Mustafa shared several photos of the family members that were killed, including multiple children and elderly relatives. On November 24th he marked the one-month anniversary of the alleged attack, writing “Thirty days have passed, and no one knows the pain of my heart except God alone. Thirty days have passed, like sixty years. Every night is pain, thought, and deep crying. I did not cry even in my childhood. The pain and wounds are deep. Everything reminds me of them: my father, my mother, my brother, my sister. These cannot be replaced at any price, not even with dreams.

About my children, they are the people of my heart. From the first day they came into this world… like any father, I started planning the future for them, dreaming, wishing, and bringing them what they wish for and what I wish for them. It was not even in my dreams that… my time with them will be very short.”

Remembering his mother several months later on January 25th, Mustafa mourned that without her, he had “lost [his] compass in this world”. Noting the impact across generations of the family, he wrote of his mother, “because of my great love for you and your name, I named my daughter like your name. And because of your great love and fear for my children [my mother], they went with you and buried my daughter.”

Mustafa later marked “100 days since separation, 100 days, and the heart is squeezing pain and sadness for loved ones. The smile was gone with them. 100 days and everything changed in our lives. Dreams are no longer the same as they were. With your departure, everything changed and everything was broken.”

His posts in the year since describe the on-going feelings of loss for his family and for the family home: “We had a beautiful house that included all the family members, my father, my mother, my brothers, and all of their children…. Here were the hopes and dreams, here were the memories. Here, everything was beautiful and brought together our family members”.

Mustafa shared photos of the home from before and after the incident. In the latter images, multiple levels of the home appear to have collapsed, and many sections are charred from fire damage.

Mohammad Mitwalli also grieved members of the al-Bahloul family who were killed in the alleged strike, announcing that “two of my uncles (Salim and Omar) and their wives were martyred tonight, a collection of their descendants, in total approaching 30 individuals.” Saleem ALbahlool wrote, “I bring you the news of the progress of my loved ones, my beautiful family …Thirty-two moons [the deceased] have ascended to heaven from my family.” D mohammed bahlol, a surviving child of Omar Abdul Majeed al-Bahloul and Hanan Ibrahim al-Bahloul, expressed sorrow over the deaths of their family members and shared various photos of some of the people killed in the alleged strike, including multiple children.

Abu Obaida Abu Ghadeeb wrote “I offer my wife my deepest condolences and sympathy on the martyrdom of her cousin, Samaher Banat (al-Bahloul), her daughter, her son, and her husband’s family, of whom 42 were martyred in the bombing that targeted their house.” Nadeen Emad also shared her grief about her relatives’ passing, writing “we mourn my dear aunt Samaher (Umm Ibrahim), her son Ibrahim, and her little daughter, Ghazal, who were martyred in Gaza.”

al-Fasih family

Airwars identified at least 21 members of the al-Fasih family killed in the incident based on family testimonies.

This includes Sami Zakaria al-Fasih (51), killed alongside his wife Maha Mahmoud al-Fasih (44), their sons Khalil Sami Zakaria al-Fasih (24) and Muhammad Sami Zakaria al-Fasih (14), and their daughter Dima Sami Zakaria al-Fasih (21).

The Scout Group Marine Club Beach Camp mourned the loss of one of its members, Khalil Sami Zakaria al-Fasih, sharing a photo of the young man wearing his scouts uniform and writing “The Marine Beach Club Scouts Group mourns one of its loyal leaders, the martyr Commander ((Khalil Al-Fasih))…You hurt our hearts, Khalil.”

Sakhr Humaid also grieved the “new scout martyr. I mourn one of my sons… He studied at my hands as a cub, then a scout, then a senior, then a ranger, then a leader. Today, he is rising steadily”.

Sakhr shared photos of Khalil, including one of the young men standing in a line with his fellow scouts. Mahmoud Abu Znada Media Platform, Abu Sami al-Sawalhi, Obaieda Haddaf, and Ahmad Sami al-Hissi also shared photos of Khalil in honour of his passing. Yousef al-Hissi shared photos of “the heroic martyr, my nephew, Tamer [al-Fasih]  [and] the heroic martyr, friend Khalil Sami al-Fasih.” Ghassan Abu Naji shared a smiling photo of himself with Tamer and Khalil and emphasized that his “heart exploded” with the news of Khalil’s death.

Aya Alsweisi also grieved the deaths of her relatives, writing “My mother’s cousin (Maha al-Fasih, her sons Muhammad and Khalil, and her daughter Dima) were martyrs. May God give you patience, my aunt, and make your heart happy with the month of Ramadan, and give you patience, my love. Doaa al-Fasih.”

Om Mahmoud Hassan mourned the deaths of the al-Fasih family members as well in a post stating that “my cousin and my husband’s sister, Maha al-Fasih, her husband, and her children, Khalil, Dima, and Muhammad, have passed away.”

39-year-old woman Siham Khamis al-Fasih was also killed along with her three sons – Ahmed Adel Zakaria al-Fasih (21), Mohamed Adel Zakaria al-Fasih (15), and Mahmoud Adel Zakaria al-Fasih, and her daughter Ellen Adel Zakaria al-Fasih (8).

Doaa Fayiz expressed sorrow that “my beloved, my cousin, Siham is a martyr, along with her daughter and sons, Ahmed, Muhammad, and Mahmoud. I swear my heart broke when I heard the news of your martyrdom.” Hussein Abu al-Sadeq announced that “my sister Siham (Umm Ahmed) joins the ranks of the martyrs, along with her sons Ahmed, Muhammad, and Mahmoud, and her daughter Elaine. Night 10/23…She remains her husband and his son, Yusuf.”

Sameh Samir Zakaria al-Fasih (37) and his son Samir Sameh Samir al-Fasih (10) were killed as well.

Sherif Abo Ashref posted photos of “one of the moons of Gaza, the beloved and dear to my heart, my aunt’s husband and my cousin’s son, the martyr Sameh al-Fasih [and] the child martyr, Samir Sameh al-Fasih. The eyes shed tears and the heart mourns your loss.”

Muhammad Nahed al-Fasih (32) lost his life along with the lives of his children, a son Hamza Muhammad Nahed al-Fasih (3), and a daughter Aida Muhammad Nahed al-Fasih (8).

Saher Samir Zakaria al-Fasih (36), Tim Ahmed Samir al-Fasih (1), Aida Zakaria al-Fasih (58), Malak Mousa Nahed al-Fasih (2), Farah Muhammad Fathi al-Fasih (5), and Tamer Munther al-Fasih (25) were also killed in the alleged Israeli strike on their family home.

Kamal Esleem and Saleem Al Bahlool mourned the death of Tamer Munther al-Fasih, writing, “Goodbye, my tender heart, to the eternal gardens, Tamer. I bring you the news of the promotion of Adeli Tamer Al-Fasih. God willing, Tamer, I am a safe war for you like my daughter and Ziada. I swear to God I have not been happy for her 18 days since she came to life. God willing, I will talk to her about your kindness and compassion and everything beautiful, your beautiful face. May you live in the eternal paradise, Tamer.”

Heba Nasser offered her condolences to her friend whose infant son was killed in the alleged strike, writing “My love, your mother’s heart is patient with you, my love.  The son of my friend (Taym Ahmed al-Fasih) is a martyr, a bird in Paradise, my beloved. I can’t believe you’re gone…. May God give us patience over your separation, my soul, and give patience to your heart, my sister. ”

Ashraf Abu Muhammad bid “goodbye to my eternal paradise, the martyr: Moataz Omar al-Bahloul [and] the martyr..Mohamed Sami al-Fasih,” and shared photos of the two teenagers posing for the camera.

Circumstances of the attack

Mohammad Azmi posted that “more than 100 people were recovered, including martyrs and wounded, in a large massacre in Al-Shati camp…a ​​horrific and large massacre!” Alhaya.ps shared a circulating video in which “one of the relatives of the victims of the al-Shati Camp massacre against the Bahloul family testifies about the [Israeli military’s] use of unknown weapons that melt the skin and burn the body.”

Twitter/X user @almnaranews and other social media sources including Islam Eyub, Moein Tayseer al-Daba, and Naji Salah al-Mazra’awi reported that “an entire square” of residential homes had been hit by the strike. According to Rabaa Mohamed, “the bombing of al-Shati camp in Block 4 caused very extensive destruction.” Rescue efforts were delayed, as there was “no dispatch in the camp, and they [did] not know how to call for first aid.” Rabaa lamented that there were still people under the rubble, and no ambulances had arrived yet.

Relatives held funerals throughout the following days, with Mohammad Mitwali stating that “Condolences for men will be accepted [October 24th] only at the Sons of Al-Bireh Association from four in the afternoon until nine at night, and for women for three days at my father’s house in Al-Bireh near the Al-Omari Mosque.”

Multiple sources indicated that the alleged attack involved a succession of strikes in a period of two hours or less. Wafa Agency reported that “Israeli aircraft fired 3 missiles at a number of homes in the al-Shati Camp, west of Gaza City, including the homes of the Farhat, al-Fasih, and Dababish families, which led to the death and injury of dozens of citizens who were in their homes at the time they were targeted.”

According to Facebook user Mahmoud Emad, “the [Israeli military] committed two massacres in less than an hour in our ‘al-Shati’ camp. The first massacre targeted an entire square containing 4 families opposite al-Tawhid Mosque: Farhat, Bahloul, al-Fasih, and Dabbash. The second massacre targeted a house for the Bakr family opposite Khalil al-Rahman Mosque…and the bombing is still continuing.” On Twitter/X, @mhmdbinreyad explained that “within less than two hours, the [Israeli military] committed two massacres in al-Shati camp. An entire square was destroyed on the heads of its residents, including the families of Farhat, Dabbash, and al-Fasih, and there were a large number of martyrs and wounded. It was followed by another massacre, during which a home for the Bakr family was targeted, and five martyrs have risen so far.”

Abu Omar Tarteer shared a video on Facebook (credited to @PalpostN) showing a man carrying a shrouded body towards a truck where dozens of bodies in white sheets are already stacked neatly on the bed. Mourners gather around the truck, praying and touching some of the dead as a few men approach with a stretcher carrying the body of another victim. The caption says “my cousin, her sons, and 42 of their relatives from the Bahloul family in Gaza died in the al-Shati Camp massacre as martyrs before their Lord.” Similar videos shared by D. Ahmad al-Bahloul and Abdulrahman Mitwally also show dozens of bodies belonging to the al-Bahloul family on the bed of a truck as mourners gather around and pray for them. User ‘One.farfsha’ shared a video from the site of the alleged attack showing dozens of people gathered around a crater, with rubble, destroyed vehicles, and other debris visible, and wrote that “until now, the martyrs are being recovered from under the rubble as a result of the bombing on Beit Al-Fasih in al-Shati camp.”

Detailing the alleged Israeli attack on the al-Shati Camp which caused “dozens of martyrs,” Imad al-Hamami Abu Israa shared two highly graphic images of “children of the al-Fasih family” who were killed. The first image shows a dead toddler with major head wounds–identified by a tag on the body as two-year-old Malak Musa al-Fasih–while the second image shows the same toddler and the body of a second child–Aida al-Fasih– with severe head wounds. The two lay on a stretcher together, with Malak’s body placed on top of Aida’s.

Sharing a video of the crater that resulted from the alleged attack on the residential square, Roaa Dababesh expressed that “loss is very painful if it is to a stranger, what if it is to someone you have lived with since you were born? Our neighbors are from us and we are from them. The injury is great and the loss is very painful, I swear …A massacre [occurred] in our neighborhood. It has become a ghost town. Its sky is very sad. Its clouds are black. Its soil is stained with blood. Body parts here and there. The smell of musk is widespread, according to the testimony of truthful people. All that remains are memories, everything is on the ground. There is no complete family left, all of them are missing a dear and dear one. May God bind their hearts and our hearts. Dababesh family, al-Bahloul family, al-Fasih family. You hurt our hearts, I swear …Who will restore our neighborhood’s people, stability, and vitality? Who?!”

Since the alleged attack, relatives, such as Mustafa Saleem, have continued to express their grief over the family members they lost on October 23rd 2023.

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

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