Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0286

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

بطن السمين, Batn al Sameen, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.339794, 34.298670 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At dawn on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit a five-storey residential building, where at least nine families reportedly lived. At least seven members of the Zorob family along with at least 18 other civilians were killed, while at least four civilians were injured – including children.

The house was said to be on 7 Hada Street in the Batn al-Sameen area, in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.

Among those killed were Police Captain Iyad Ibrahim Jasser al-Barqi Zorob (42 years old) and his wife Dr. Maysaa Khamis Mahmoud Farwana Zorob (39 years old), alongside their 13-year old daughter, Talin Iyad Ibrahim Zorob, and four of their five sons: 2-year old Baraa Iyad Ibrahim Zorob, 5-year old Kenan Iyad Ibrahim Zorob, 9-year old Ibrahim Iyad Ibrahim Zorob, and 14-year old Rayan Iyad Ibrahim Zorob. Sources were conflicted as to whether their 11-year old son, Muhammad Iyad Ibrahim Zorob, sustained injuries and survived the bombardment or was among those killed.

A tweet from @ajmubasher identified 24 killed from the strike on the Zorob family while @WWIIIAR reported a toll of “more than 30 martyrs in one family”. The majority of other local sources stated that 28 people had been killed, quoting the Gaza Interior Ministry.

Khan Yunis City posted that four injuries resulted from an airstrike in Batn al-Sameen while multiple sources reported on “dozens” of injuries. Very graphic images posted by Hamza Soqor show at least two children, including an infant, among the injured and a video posted by Amr Tabash shows at least four injured children arriving at the hospital in an ambulance.

On Twitter/X, @ShehabAgency published photographs captured by Amr Tabsh, showcasing the children’s aunt embracing the clothes of her late niece, Talin, while Mohsen Alafranji and @AJA_Palestine shared various images and a video, respectively, portraying the aftermath of the bombardment, along with the subsequent rescue and recovery efforts. Later that same day, the Zorob Family Youth Association posted pictures on Facebook documenting the funeral.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. According to a testimony posted on Facebook by Sharaf Y Dorgham, Captain Iyad Ibrahim’s cousin, the house was destroyed “without prior warning.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Iyad Ibrahim Jasser Zorob إياد إبراهيم جاسر زعرب
42 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 906742341
Maysaa Khamis Mahmoud Farwana Zorob ميساء خميس محمود فروانة زعرب
39 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800312977
Rayan Iyad Ibrahim Zorob ريان إبراهيم زعرب
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 427558838
Muhammad Iyad Ibrahim Zorob محمد إبراهيم زعرب
11 years old male injured
Ibrahim Iyad Ibrahim Zorob إبراهيم إياد إبراهيم زعرب
9 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 435088711
Kenan Iyad Ibrahim Zorob كنان إياد إبراهيم زعرب
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440728798
Baraa Iyad Ibrahim Zorob براء إياد إبراهيم زعرب
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445550494
Talin Iyad Ibrahim Zorob تالين إياد إبراهيم زعرب
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429733082

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Batn al Sameen (بطن السمين) to the south 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 Batn al Sameen are: 31.339794, 34.298670.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 31
  • (5–6 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (61) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: @MohsenAlafranj
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    Source: @AboodSmren7
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    Source: @AboodSmren7
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ii_Mo11
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: Zoroub family
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    Source: Zoroub family
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    Source: Sharaf.0598
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sharaf.0598
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    Source: Sharaf.0598
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    Source: Permalink
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: mona.khader.509
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: mona.khader.509
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    Source: mona.khader.509
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: mona.khader.509
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: mona.khader.509
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Honor, Dhargham
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    Source: Honor, Dhargham
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    Source: Honor, Dhargham
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamza the terrifying Falcons
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamza the terrifying Falcons
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamza the terrifying Falcons
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamza the terrifying Falcons
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fayez Zourub Abu Ahmed
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    Source: Farwana family in the homeland and diaspora
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    Source: Alghad.tv news
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    Source: Alam Sadeq
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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
    24 – 31
  • (5–6 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (39) [ collapse]