Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0294

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

طريق البريد, Al Barid Road, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.342787, 34.310547 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 17, 2023, at least 10 people, members of the Barbakh family, were killed and at least five others were wounded during an alleged Israeli airstrike at the Barbakh family home on Al Barid road, central Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

The attack, which struck the property located opposite the post office in central Khan Younis, occurred at around 2.50pm and resulted in an unknown number of injuries.

The Barbakh family bore the heaviest toll in this tragic incident, encompassing multiple generations from the eldest, 67-year-old Sheikh Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh (915605455), to the youngest, one-year-old Sawsan Mustafa Mahmoud Barbakh (445000276). Among those who lost their lives were Sawsan Ahmed Muammar (wife of Mahmoud), aged 54 (924300650); their son, Muhammad Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, aged 13 (429488653); their grandson, Uday Makram Aouni Barbakh, aged 17 (424184737); Kholoud Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, 21 (daughter of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (408537231); Sabreen Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, 32 (daughter of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (803466366); and Samar Imad Al-Masry, 26, (daughter-in-law of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (403095318); Sally Ramez Muhammad Abu Muammar, 4 (daughter of Sabreen); and Saba Ramez Ahmed Barbakh (daughter of Sabreen).

Jihad Barbakh, a family member of the deceased, provided the names of the 10 members of the Barbakh family who were killed, in addition to mentioning that “more than 10 martyrs were passers-by on the road”, indicating that there were at least 10 additional deaths.

Local reports emphasised the absence of any forewarning prior to the attack. Immediately following the incident, eyewitness videos emerged which depict a scene of panic followed by a swift and substantial mobilisation of rescue operations. Local sources, including the Palestinian Health Ministry, reported that a number of casualties who were pulled from the rubble managed to reach Nasser Hospital, others could not be saved.

In the days and weeks preceding the incident, surviving members of the Barbakh family have paid tribute to their lost loved ones on Facebook. Most poignant of all was a November 3, video post from Mostafa Mahmud, husband of Samar Imad Al-Masry, showing their daughter one-year-old Sawsan Mustafa Mahmoud joyfully playing in her home. Mostafa explained that the video was captured less than five minutes before the airstrike hit their residence.

Multiple sources, Alaraby News and Safa News, reported that “injuries” resulted from the bombing but did not provide a toll. Images posted by Zahia Farahat show children and a man being treated from their injuries, with at least four different children receiving medical care.

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 strike to the Israeli military.

The incident occured at approximately 2:50 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh محمود سعيد بربخ
67 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 915605455
Sawsan Mustafa Mahmoud Barbakh سوسن مصطفى محمود بربخ
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445000276
Muhammad Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh محمد محمود سعيد بربخ
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429488653
Sawsan Ahmed Muammar سوسن أحمد معمر
54 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 924300650
Khuloud Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh خلود محمود سعيد بربخ
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408537231
Sabreen Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh صابرين محمود سعيد بربخ
32 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803466366
Saba Ramez Ahmed Barbakh صبا رامز احمد بربخ
Child female killed
Sally Ramez Ahmed Barbakh سالي رامز احمد بربخ
4 years old female killed
Samar Imad Al-Masry سمر عماد المصري
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403095318
Uday Makram Aouni Barbakh عدي مكرم عوني بربخ
17 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424184737

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike on a residential building on al Barid Road (طريق البريد) to the east of Khan Younis (خان يونس). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.342787, 34.310547.

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  • Imagery:
    @BlinxNow

  • Imagery:
    @BlinxNow

  • Imagery:
    @BlinxNow

  • Imagery:
    Mostafa Mahmud

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 20
  • (4–5 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (26) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Abdel Rahman Al Obadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Abdel Rahman Al Obadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Abdel Rahman Al Obadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Abdel Rahman Al Obadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Abdel Rahman Al Obadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Isam Abu Bisam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Faysal Barbakh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moath Moh Iprahim
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Mostafa Faysal Majdi Barbakh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mostafa Faysal Majdi Barbakh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rashad Abu Tareq
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mostafa Mahmud
  • 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
    10 – 20
  • (4–5 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (40) [ collapse]