Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0392a

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

الشيخ ناصر, Sheikh Nasser, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.340473, 34.312282 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the early hours of Friday, October 20th, 2023, alleged Israeli airstrikes hit the al-Farra and Hadayed’s family homes in the Sheikh Nasser neighbourhood of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, reportedly killing 11 civilians spanning three generations. The victims of the attack included three children, five women, and three men.

Among those killed were grandfather 70 year old Abdul Raouf Saleh Ali al-Farra and his wife 60 year old Samira Muhammad Harzallah, alongside their two daughters, 21 year old Ghadeer Abdel Raouf Saleh al-Farra and 25 year old Hala Abdel Raouf Saleh al-Farra, their son, 32 year old Ibrahim Abdel Raouf Saleh al-Farra, and their daughter-in-law, Heba Salim Abu Nimah. The incident, reported by The Palestine Post (@PalpostN) and Twitter/X user @ehabomar21 to have occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, also claimed the lives of Abdul and Samira’s grandson (Heba and Ibrahim’s children), less than a year old Abdel Raouf Ibrahim Abdel Raouf al-Farra, and granddaughter, 1 year old Siwar Ibrahim Abdel Raouf al-Farra, as well as the Hadayed family’s young member Raed Abu Hadayed and his wife, whose name is still unknown. @ehabomar21’s tweet mentioned that “there were no survivors under the rubble” and a post from Yaser Mouaye Alfarra mentioned that at the time, the child Samira Ibrahim al-Farra’s body was still under rubble, indicating that young Samira was among those killed.

Condolences messages, along with several pictures honoring the victims, were posted on Facebook by various relatives and acquaintances, including Samira’s cousin, Asmaa Alfarra, and her nephew, Yehia Alagha; Abrahim’s cousin, Mohammed Shoaib Farra; a close friend who referred to him as his “beloved brother”, Hasan Ouda; and his classmate, Abod Elregeb, who stated that his “wise friend” Ibrahim was “one of the best of His creations in morals and upbringing”. Tarek Alfarra and Yaser Mouaye Alfarra also documented the aftermath of the bombardment and shared photos taken during the al-Farra’s family members’ funeral on Facebook.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. According to testimonies posted on Twitter/X and Facebook by @DrWhotreatsman and Jomaa Alfarra, respectively, the al-Farra’s residence was destroyed “without warning”.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Samira Ibrahim Al-Farra سميرة ابراهيم الفرا
Child female killed
Abdul Raouf Saleh Ali Al-Farra عبد الرؤوف صالح علي الفرا
70 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 955312046
Samira Muhammad Harzalla سميرة محمد حرز الله
60 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 955255435
Ghadeer Abdel Raouf Saleh Al-Farra غدير عبد الرؤوف صالح الفرا
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407958982
Hala Abdel Raouf Saleh Al-Farra هالة عبد الرؤوف صالح الفرا
25 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403804388
Ibrahim Abdel Raouf Saleh Al-Farra إبراهيم عبد الرؤوف صالح الفرا
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803469477
Heba Salim Abu Nimah هبة سليم أبو نعمة
Adult female killed
Abdel Raouf Ibrahim Abdel Raouf Al-Farra عبد الرؤوف إبراهيم عبد الرؤوف الفرا
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 444265904
Siwar Ibrahim Abdel Raouf Al-Farra سوار إبراهيم عبد الرؤوف الفرا
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444434328

Family members (2)

Raed Abu Hadayed رائد ابو حدايد
male killed
Wife of Raed Abu Hadayed زوجة رائد ابو حدايد
female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sheikh Nasser (الشيخ ناصر) to the east of Khan Younis (خان يونس). 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 Sheikh Nasser are: 31.340473, 34.312282.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (3 children5 women3 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Kawthar A Alfarra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yaser Mouaye Alfarra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yaser Mouaye Alfarra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yaser Mouaye Alfarra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yaser Mouaye Alfarra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Abod Elregeb
  • 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
    11
  • (3 children5 women3 men)
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]