Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0520

Incident date

October 23, 2023

Location

مخيم بدر غربي مدينة رفح, Badr Camp, west of Rafah, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.306667, 34.248333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the 23rd of October 2023, the Abu Jazar family home, located in the Badr Camp, west of Rafah, was allegedly bombed by an Israeli airstrike, killing 11 people, all of whom were women and children.

42-year-old Sherine Kamal Abu Jazar was reportedly killed with her seven children, however sources provided eight names of her children. Her seven daughters were all killed: Dima Omar Hassan Abu Jazar, 15-year-old Sama Omar Hassan Abu Jazar, Lama Omar Hassan Abu Jazar, Jana Omar Hassan Abu Jazar (with some sources replacing Jana for nine-year-old Saba Omar Hassan Abu Jazar), Roua Omar Hassan Abu Jazar, and two-year-old Ghana Omar Hassan Abu Jazar. Sherine’s son, four-year-old son Ahmed Omar Hassan Abu Jazar, was also killed.

Two others, Afnan Naji Abu Jazar (26) and Baraa Ahmed Zuhair Khalifa were also killed. Facebook user Yousef Jo referred to Baraa as his “child nephew.” In a photograph shared by Mohamed Hammad, Baraa appears to be around eight to ten years old. Mourners wished “a thousand merc[ies] and light[s]” upon him. Nothing “could bring back the light of Baraa’s eyes.”

Multiple relatives and friends flocked to social media to share their memories of the deceased. Facebook user Khaled abu Jazar celebrated Dima and Sama for their work memorizing the Quran. A post from Facebook user Umm Mohammad al-Ghoul referenced Sherine as a doctor, implying she may have worked in the medical or academic professions.

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

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Sherine Kamal Abu Jazar شرين كمال ابو جزر
42 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 908957335
Dima Omar Hassan Abu Jazar ديما عمر حسن ابو جزر
female killed
Sama Omar Hassan Abu Jazar سما عمر حسن ابو جزر
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 426088647
Lama Omar Hassan Abu Jazar لمى عمر حسن ابو جزر
female killed
Jana Omar Hassan Abu Jazar جنى عمر حسن ابو جزر
female killed
Roua Omar Hassan Abu Jazar رؤى عمر حسن ابو جزر
female killed
Ghana Omar Hassan Abu Jazar غنى عمر حسن ابو جزر
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445547342
Ahmed Omar Hassan Abu Jazar احمد عمر حسن ابو جزر
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441217619
Afnan Naji Abu Jazar افنان ناجي ابو جزر
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 402134639
Saba Omar Hasan Abu Jazar صبا عمر حسن ابو جزر
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 433063823

The victims were named as:

Baraa Ahmed Zuhair Khalifa براء أحمد زهير خليفة
Child male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Badr Camp (مخيم بدر) to the west of Rafah (رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.306667, 34.248333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (5–9 children2–6 women)
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shadi abu jazar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    11
  • (5–9 children2–6 women)
  • 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 (37) [ collapse]