Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0142

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

الصفطاوي, Al Saftawi, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.539895, 34.473281 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 18 civilians were killed and up to 23 were reportedly injured, including four children, when an alleged Israeli bomb hit the four-storey home of the Abu Hayya family on October 12th 2023.,

The house was located in the Al-Saftawi area, in the northern Gaza Strip. Shehab Agency reported that there were casualties in neighboring houses as well.

Local sources reported that more than 40 people were inside the building when the incident occurred, while nabd.com reported that 40 people were harmed in the attack – though did not differentiate between fatalities and injuries.

By that evening, medical teams had been able to recover between 15 and 18 bodies from the rubble. @EsamLotf reported that many of those killed were women, children and the elderly. Mohammad Khatib made a Facebook post the following day, on October 13th, claiming that 23 victims still remained under the rubble.

Some of the victims were named by various sources as Ahmed Abu Hayya (Abu Wael, 28 years old), who was described by a neighbor as humble and good-natured, and Ghada Abu Hayya (46 years old) who was the director of Nusaybah Bint Kaab School; the school made a Facebook post mourning her death describing her as the “best leader”. Abdul Rahman Abu Hayya (22 years old), who was described as a beloved friend and brother, and his family (it is unclear how many of his family were killed). Jihad Abu Hayya (Abu Shaher, 49 years old), who was described as kind-hearted, Khaled Abu Hayya (Abu Malik, 29 years old), who was described as a dear friend and Ibrahim Abu Hayya (22 years old), who was engaged to the sister of Emad Nidal.

On Thursday evening, four injured children were taken to Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia after the bombing, according to the medical facilities’ own post.

Multiple sources reported that the incident took place without prior warning.

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

All named victims have been identified among the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of almost 7,000 names released on October 26th, 2023.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ahmed Abu Hayya أحمد ابو حية
28 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400662573
Abdul Rahman Abu Hayya and his family عبد الرحمن أبو حية وعائلته
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407115369
Jihad Abu Hayya (Abu Shaher) (جهاد ابو حية (ابو شاهر
49 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900322181
Ghada Abu Hayya غادة أبو حية
46 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 900493479
Khaled Abu Hayya (Abu Malik) (خالد ابو حيه ( أبو مالك
29 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400253043
Ibrahim Abu Hayya ابراهيم ابو حيه
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407065416

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Saftawi (الصفطاوي) to the west of Jabalia (جباليا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Saftawi are: 31.539895, 34.473281.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 18
  • (1 woman5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–23
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: SamerAlshaer2020
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: @RAlmqadmt7725
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Sanya Hamed Abedrabbou
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Emad Nidal
  • 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
    15 – 18
  • (1 woman5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–23
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]