Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0032

Incident date

October 8, 2023

Location

جوار مسجد عبد العزام, Vicinity of Abdel Azzam Mosque, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.545256, 34.525208 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 8th 2023, at around 12:30pm, the Al Zaneen family house located near Abdel Azzam Mosque in Izbet Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, was allegedly bombed by an Israeli warplane. At least 21 members of the large Al Zaneen family were killed across three generations: 66-year old Jamil Hassan Muhammad Al Zaneen (Abu Muhammad) and his wife Salma Hussein Muhammad Al Zaneen, together with their three sons, Dr. Mohammed Jameel Al Zaneen, Hussam Jameel Al Zaneen and Hamza Jameel Al Zaneen, and their sons’ wives and children.

The large four-storey house housed around thirty people overall, and was reported to be completely destroyed. Initially Wattan news reported that nine members of the Al Zaneen family were killed, and some were wounded in a critical condition. But later most sources reported that 21 people, including 11 children (five boys and six girls) and five women, were killed. Their remains were transferred to the Indonesian hospital as they were removed from the rubble by Palestinian medical and civil defense teams, according to the Defense for Children International Palestine. In total, Airwars identified the names of 22 victims from Al Zaneen family through local reporting and relatives obituaries: 12 children, five women and five men killed in the bombing. Only one source, @fidaazaanin, also recorded the death of Jamil Hassan Muhammad Al Zaneen (Abu Muhammad). As such, Airwars estimated that between 21 to 22 civilians were killed in the airstrike.

Dr. Mohammed Jameel Al Zaneen was one of the doctoral student graduates at the University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia USIM. The Malaysia Branch of the General Union of Palestine Students honoured his memory in a dedicated post and extended its deepest condolences and sympathy to Al Zaneen family.

Dr. Al Zaneen was on vacation with his family in the Gaza Strip at the time of the attack. His wife Kholoud Muhammad Hassan Al Zaneen and their four sons – a twelve-year old Hasan Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen, a nine-year old Obaida Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen, a seven-year old Khaled Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen, and four-year old Amr Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen lost their lives in this tragic incident, survived only by one son.

Maruwan Alshireedi remembers that just the day before the attack the five sons of Dr. Mohammed Al Zaneen were reciting and memorizing the Qur’an with him. He wrote in a heartfelt testimony: “The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and people are sad to hear this news. Abaqa Biladi, a teacher of the two older Al Zaneen’s sons, wrote in a Facebook post: “Khaled and Obaida were my polite and intelligent students”.

Another son of Salma Hussein Muhammad Al Zaneen, Hussam Jameel Al Zaneen, killed in the strike as highlighted above, will be remembered for his “beautiful qualities, good morals, and unprecedented calm”, according to the Facebook testimony by his friend Qasem Abo Sido. He was killed together with his wife Heba Ismail Hussein Al Zaneen, their twelve-year old son Mouamen Hussam Jamil Zaneen and their five daughters – Misk Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen, a nine-year old Nour Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen, a seven-year old Zaina Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen, a five-year old Mais Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen, and a one year-old Hala Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen.

Also killed in the strike were Diana Mahmoud Muhammad Atta Al Zaneen, Risala Al Zaneen, and her two daughters, a five-year old Salma Omar Jameel Al Zaneen and a three-year old Balsam Omar Jameel Al Zaneen. Diana and Risala were reported to be the daughters-in-law of of Jamil al Zaneen. A post from Mohannad Mustafa Al Zaneen also indicated that Risala was pregnant at the time she was killed. Their cousin Anas Muhammad Hassan Al Zaneen was also among the victims.

Journalist Hani Abu Razouk documented a poignant clip of a woman from the Al Zaneen family crying after more than 20 members of her family were killed. She said: “All of them were martyred. All of them died. All of them went. More than 20 people in the house. They bombed them without warning.”

The photojournalist shared another clip of a woman crying for her daughter after she was killed in the bombing, saying, “My daughter is gone… she’s gone, for God’s sake, tell me if she is alive!”

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 the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes 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 at approximately 12:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (22)

Jamil Hassan Muhammad Al Zaneen (Abu Muhammad) جميل حسن الزعانين
66 years old male killed
Salma Hussein Muhammad Al Zaneen سلمي حسين محمد الزعانين
Adult female Jamil's wife killed
Dr. Mohammed Jameel Al Zaneen محمد جميل الزعانين
40 years old male Jamil and Salma's son killed Matched to MoH ID 800001505
Hussam Jameel Al Zaneen حسام جميل الزعانين
36 years old male Jamil and Salma's son killed Matched to MoH ID 800693962
Hamza Jameel Al Zaneen حمزة جميل الزعانين
20 years old male Jamil and Salma's son killed Matched to MoH ID 409768934
Kholoud Muhammad Hassan Al Zaneen خلود محمد حسن الزعانين
35 years old female Dr. Mohammed Jameel Al Zaneen's wife killed Matched to MoH ID 801827767
Hasan Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen حسن محمد جميل الزعانين
12 years old male Dr Mohammad and Kholoud's son killed Matched to MoH ID 430778316
Obaida Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen عبيدة محمد جميل الزعانين
9 years old male Dr Mohammad and Kholoud's son killed Matched to MoH ID 434010500
Khaled Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen خالد محمد جميل الزعانين
7 years old male Dr Mohammad and Kholoud's son killed Matched to MoH ID 436045090
Amr Muhammad Jamil Al Zaneen عمرو محمد جميل الزعانين
4 years old male Dr Mohammad and Kholoud's son killed Matched to MoH ID 438555757
Heba Ismail Hussein Al Zaneen هبة اسماعيل حسين الزعانين
33 years old female Hussam's wife killed Matched to MoH ID 802596387
Mouamen Hussam Jamil Zaneen مؤمن حسام جميل الزعانين
12 years old male Heba and Hussam's son killed Matched to MoH ID 430114249
Misk Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen مسك حسام جميل الزعانين
Child female Heba and Hussam's daughter killed
Nour Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen نور حسام جميل الزعانين
9 years old female Heba and Hussam's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 432974228
Zaina Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen زينة حسام جميل الزعانين
7 years old female Heba and Hussam's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 436966196
Mais Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen ميس حسام جميل الزعانين
5 years old female Heba and Hussam's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 440410082
Hala Hussam Jamil Al Zaneen حلا حسام جميل الزعانين
1 years old female Heba and Hussam's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 445745797
Diana Mahmoud Muhammad Atta Al Zaneen ديانا محمود عطا الزعانين
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 402903033
Risala Al Zaneen رساله محمد محمد الزعانين
26 years old female pregnant killed Matched to MoH ID 402903157
Salma Omar Jameel Al Zaneen سلمى الزعانين
5 years old female Risala's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 440417038
Balsam Omar Jameel Al Zaneen بلسم الزعانين
3 years old female Risala's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 443124755
Anas Muhammad Hassan Al Zaneen أنس محمد حسان الزعانين
22 years old male Risala's cousin killed Matched to MoH ID 407695204

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Abdel Azzam Mosque (مسجد عبد العزام) in the village of Izbat Beit Hanoun (عزبة بيت حانون). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.545256, 34.525208.

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  • Imagery:
    Roya Palestine

  • Imagery:
    Al Haya ps

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    21 – 22
  • (12 children5 women4–5 men)
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (36) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qasem Abo Sido
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Zaneen family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ata Al Zaneen
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Islam Mus Al Zaneen
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The General Union of Palestinian Students-Malaysia
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mohannad Mustafa Al Zaneen
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohannad Mustafa Al Zaneen
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohannad Mustafa Al Zaneen
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohannad Mustafa Al Zaneen
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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
    21 – 22
  • (12 children5 women4–5 men)
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]