Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0189

Incident date

October 14, 2023

Location

محافظة رفح, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.282901, 34.272915 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At dawn on Saturday October 14th at least 15 members of the extended Al-Tahrawi family were killed, including three mothers from three families and their six children. An alleged Israeli airstrike hit their family home in Rafah, south of the Gaza strip, flattening the house and killing all the occupants except a young child that was taken into intensive care. At least four civilians were also reported injured in the attack that caused major damage to infrastructure in the surrounding area.

The victims included 66 year old Zaki Hassan Khalil al-Tahrawi, his wife Umm Muhammad al-Tahrawi and their daughter Ijlal Zaki al-Tahrawi. Umm Hassan, her daughter Reem Nasser al-Tahrawi and her son 25 year old Samir Nasser Hassan al-Tahrawi. Ola Hijazi and her three children, 3 year old Nassar al-Tahrawi, Ahmed al-Tahrawi and 2 year old Kinda al-Tahrawi, were also killed.

Five other names were also listed by family and friends on social media: 14 year old Awad al-Tahrawi, 47 year old Nahed Abdel Karim, Muhammad al-Tahrawi, Reda Al-Tahrawi, and 33 year old Hassan Zaki Hassan Al-Tahrawi (who based on his name may be a child of Zaki and Umm Muhammad). News sources reported that the family members were gradually recovered from beneath the rubble by rescue teams and many were taken into intensive care. In the afternoon of the 14th of October Safa News reported that a woman and two children were recovered from beneath the rubble, bringing the number of victims killed to seven. The following day, on the 15th of October, Shehab Agency reported that a woman and two more children were recovered from the rubble bringing the total number of victims to eleven. Sources reported that rescue crew were still searching for victims in the rubble, and further victims were identified on social media.

A child was reportedly taken to the Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital, where medical staff tried to revive him. While one child was reported to have survived, it is unclear whether this child was the one brought to hospital, as it is unknown whether treatment was successful. A Facebook post from Princess Layan Ana identified four wounded who had been rescued from the rubble at the time. However, other sources mention “those in intensive care” and “a number of injuries” without providing additional figures.

Friends and family members on social media identified the victims and their relation to one another. Om Mohammed, a family member of social media, identified the victims in his family and mourned their deaths commenting ‘you hurt our hearts with your departure, my family and my pride’.

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 sources identified the belligerents, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli sources.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (15)

Zaki Hassan Khalil Al-Tahrawi زكي حسن خليل الطهراوي
66 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 918440256
Umm Muhammad Al-Tahrawi أم محمد الطهراوي
Adult female killed
Ijlal Zaki Al-Tahrawi إجلال زكي الطهراوي
female killed
Umm Hassan ام حسن
Adult female killed
Samir Nasser Hassan Al-Tahrawi سمير ناصر حسن الطهراوي
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 403800857
Reem Nasser Al-Tahrawi ريم ناصر الطهراوي
female killed
Ola Hijazi علا حجازي
40 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 926680323
Nasser Al-Tahrawi ناصر الطهراوي
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440589489
Ahmed Al-Tahrawi أحمد الطهراوي
Child male killed
Kinda Al-Tahrawi كندا الطهراوي
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445244858
Nahed Abdel Karim Abu Zaid ناهد عبد الكريم أبو زيد
47 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900756792
Muhammad Al-Tahrawi محمد الطهراوي
male killed
Awad Al-Tahrawi عوض محمد محمود الطهراوي
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429135106
Hassan Zaki Al-Tahrawi حسن زكي حسن الطهراوي
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802837393
Reda Al-Tahrawi رضا الطهراوي
60 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 903830677

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Rafah governorate (رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.282901, 34.272915. 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
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (4–5 children6 women4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Adlitaha1.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @PalinfoAr

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlReemHamad00

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    Source: @QdwrtYsy

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @LamaYousuf1

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    Source: @Hamzaalnamla1

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    Source: @Hamzaalnamla1

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @alqudsalbawsala

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hedaya Horya

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    Source: Abumustafa88

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    Source: Abumustafa88

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Pronsses

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Pronsses

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    Source: Pronsses

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    Source: Pronsses

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    Source: Pronsses

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed

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    Source: Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed

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    Source: Ahmed

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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
  • (4–5 children6 women4–5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]