Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0046

Incident date

October 9, 2023

Location

قشطة, Qishta, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.275278, 34.250278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the morning of October 9th 2023, an Israeli airstrike allegedly hit the Qishta family home, south of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, reportedly killing two civilians, 45 year old Faisal Mohsen Muhammad Qishta and his 25 year old daughter Nour Al-Huda Qishta.

Sources additionally reported a further 12 to 14 civilians were injured. Multiple sources, including the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and Al Mezan, reported that the strike took place without prior warning and resulted in the complete destruction of the home.

Several social media posts from family members confirmed the death of Faisal and Nour, offering words of grief for their lost loved ones. “Make your abode in paradise,” reads a post from Iman Qishta. “Oh heartache.” Several family members shared photos of Faisal. In one he is wearing a blue shirt that says “positive”, and another he is shown posing in front of a ferris wheel. “May God have mercy on you, my uncle Abu Muhammad,” reads a social media post from Mohsen Qishta. “May God have mercy on you, my cousin. Oh God, replace them with a better home than their home.”

Other photos shared by family members and the Qishta family Facebook page appear to show the aftermath of the strike, with rescue workers looking through the wreckage of the heavily damaged home and taking what appear to be bodies covered in blankets or sheets to an ambulance.

Early accounts of the strike from PBC News and a social media post from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that 12 people were injured in the strike, and the Shehab Agency posted an image of a young girl being treated by medical professionals, with a caption stating that she was injured in the bombing of the Qishta family home in Rafah.

Later accounts from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al Mezan both stated that 14 people were injured.

The names of both Nour Qishta and Faisal have been found in the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

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

The location was described by sources as the Qishta neighbourhood of Rafah, likely because the family was known in the area.

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 at approximately 7:10 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Faisal Mohsen Muhammad Qishta فيصل محسن محمد قشطة
46 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900773086
Nour Al-Huda Qishta نورالهدى قشطة
25 years old female Daughter of Faisal killed Matched to MoH ID 403296221

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Qishta (قشطة) in Rafah (رفح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to find boundaries for the neighbourhood and to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Qishta are: 31.275278, 34.250278.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–14
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hisham Qishta facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Qishta family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qishta family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qishta family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohsen Qishta facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohsen Qishta facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency
  • 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
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–14
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]