Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0521

Incident date

October 23, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة الزطمة خلف مدرسة الكويتي وسط مدينة رفح جنوب قطاع غزة, Al-Zatma family home behind Al-Kuwaiti School in the center of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Monday, October 23, 2023, an alleged Israeli bombardment on the Al-Zatma family home in the al-Shawt camp of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, resulted in at least three people killed, and dozens of injuries.

Mahmoud Ahmed Shaat (also referred to as Mahmoud Muhammad Shaat by local sources) was killed alongside his wife, 39-year-old Lina Adnan Hassan Shaat. Mahmoud’s father Abu Haidar Shaat was injured, as was his aunt Umm Haidar and her grandchildren.

Alarabiya Palestine reported that strikes on the Al-Zatma family home resulted in a number of deaths and “dozens of injuries”. A post from Azza Ali put the number of killed at four while Samah Tawfiek reported that three people were killed.

The home was located near a school–identified in posts as both the al-Kuwaiti school or the Rabaa school–in which many people were sheltering. A report from source Samah Tawfiek stated that a displaced child, currently residing in the school, was also killed. No information regarding the child’s name or age was made available.

Family members and friends of the Shaats shared prayers on social media, asking that “God give patience” to the surviving family. A Facebook page for the al-Shaat family emphasized that “the entire Shaat family in Palestine and abroad mourns” the loss of the couple.

Photographs and videos shared on social media exemplified the destruction wrought by the alleged strike. The official Facebook account of Rafah city shared several videos of rescue attempts, including one in which a man carried an elderly woman on his back, away from the wreckage. Many photographs show at least six different children receiving medical care, with the posts clarifying that the children were injured in the school.

Where possible, Airwars has matched names 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Mahmoud Ahmed/Muhammad Shaat محمود احمد شعث
47 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901302786
Lina Adnan Hassan Shaat لينا عدنان حسن شعت
39 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800294167
Abu Haidar Shaat أبو حيدر شعت
Adult male injured
Umm Haidar أم حيدر
Adult female injured
Grandchild of Umm Haidar حفيد أم حيدر
Age unknown injured
Grandchild of Umm Haidar حفيد أم حيدر
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @YouthGoDigital
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    Source: Alaa said
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    Source: Alaa said
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    Source: Alaa said
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (47) [ collapse]