Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0316

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

رفح, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.296854, 34.243508 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At around 10 PM on Wednesday, 18th October, 2023, between 13 and 15 members of the Barika family were killed, including an elderly couple, five children and four women, among them a pregnant mother and her unborn baby, when an alleged Israeli airstrike hit their family home, west of the city of Rafah. At least twelve civilians, most of them children, were injured.

Shehab Agency initially reported 10 killed and a number of of injured in the attack. Referring to Palestinian sources, YPAgency reported that the death toll had risen to 13. A Facebook user Nonaa later wrote that 15 members of the Barika family had been killed, and that the death toll may rise as others could still be beneath the rubble.

Social media tributes by family and friends helped to identify the names of the thirteen killed members of the Barika family.

A grandfather, 54-year old Haji Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika (Abu Ihab) was killed alongside his wife 51-year old Taghreed Sabri Suleiman Barika, their two sons – 22-year old Jamal Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika and 29-year old Iyad Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika and their three daughters – 17-year old Haneen Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika, 27-year old Rawan Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika, and 14-year old Maram Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika. Abu Ihab also lost his brother, 56-year old Haji Kamel Khalil Rajab.

The attack also took the lives of their two daughters-in-law, wife of Jamal 23-year old Shams Amer Abdel-Rahman Barika and 30-year old Nidaa Ibrahim Hamma, and their grandchilren – a grandson (son of Iyad) 4-year old Ahmed Iyad Ahmed Barika, a granddaughter (daughter of Iyad) 6-year old Revan Iyad Ahmed Barika and a granddaughter (daughter of Nidaa) 7-year old Menna Imad Muhammad Baraka.

A Facebook user Akhmed Zorub posted a condolence message for his neighbours, the Barika family, and shared images of some of the victims. A family relative Abboud Mahmoud Barika wrote that “I cry with all the broken heart and sadness of the news”, and also shared some images, including those of the deceased children. Another family relative, Ahmed Khaled Barika, posted that “Today I bid farewell to my uncles and their children and grandchildren”. In his post, the images of some women who were killed in the strike could be seen.

Among the victims killed in the airstrike was an unborn girl Fatima Alzahraa. Twitter/X user @Sorita921 posted a picture of a baby half wrapped in a body bag, reporting that “a newborn girl came out of her martyr’s mother’s womb after seven months of pregnancy”. A Facebook user Nonaa Zakarea posted a graphic image of the dead fetus. It is unclear which of the women who was killed was pregnant.

A Facebook user Dejavo Soli reshared photos depicting groups of murdered children covered in ash and dust being wrapped up in body bags, with the comment; “these are not burnt dolls and put in bags. They are all extinguished, people of Gaza. For what sin were they killed? We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return”.

A number of civilians, most of them children, were also reported as injured in the deadly attack. Television network AJMubasher shared a heartbreaking video on Twitter/X of a young boy covered in dust from the rubble crying in distress from pain and calling his father. This video and pictures of the injured civilians shared by the Twitter/X user @Flood_Al_Aqsa and a Facebook user Jehan Yousef helped to ascertain at least twelve injured people, most of them small children. A child, Muhammed Barika, was reportedly taken to the hospital after the attack, but it is unclear whether the child received treatment or if it was successful.

A Facebook user Ibrahim shared a video online with the comment “Funeral of the Barika family massacre”. Large groups of men were depicted carrying bodies through the city to their burial place. People stood in a row along the street with their heads down and eyes closed, mourning the deaths of the murdered family.

The local sources mentioned “bombardment” and did not indicate whether that was artillery strike or airstrike. Several sources shared photos depicting a large heap of rubble, where a now destroyed building once stood, surrounded by groups of men searching in the darkness for missing people beneath.

Airwars has matched all of the names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

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

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (14)

Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
54 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 908460108
Taghreed Sabri Suleiman Barika تغريد صبري سليمان بريكة
51 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802003475
Jamal Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika جمال أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407179308
Shams Amer Abdel-Rahman Barika شمس عامرعبد الرحمن بريكة
23 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 406949990
Iyad Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika إياد أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
29 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804511376
Ahmed Iyad Ahmed Barika أحمد إياد أحمد بريكة
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441285707
Revan Iyad Ahmed Barika ريفان إياد أحمد بريكة
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 438430720
Haneen Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika حنين أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424301950
Rawan Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika روان أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
27 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 402482293
Maram Ahmed Khalil Rajab Barika مرام أحمد خليل رجب بريكة
14 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429110083
Nidaa Ibrahim Hamma نداء إبراهيم حماد بريكة
30 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 804459758
Menna Imad Muhammad Barika منة عماد محمد بركة
7 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 437081367
Kamel Khalil Rajab كامل خليل رجب
56 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 919200204
Muhammad Barika محمد بريكة
Child male injured Matched to MoH ID 919200204

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Rafah (رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.296854, 34.243508. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (5 children4 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (54) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (88) [ 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: @M0SC0W0
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    Source: @Sorita921
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    Source: Palestine voice radio
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    Source: Ahmad al-azzazi
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    Source: Alaa jamal
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    Source: Alaa jamal
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    Source: Alaa jamal
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    Source: Mohammad hani abu albaraa
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    Source: Rami abu motasam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad khaled breikeh
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    Source: Ahmad khaled breikeh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abboud mahmoud breikah
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    Source: Abboud mahmoud breikah
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    Source: Abboud mahmoud breikah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed pasha
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    Source: Shaima’s khdair
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    Source: Shaima’s khdair
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    Source: Shaima’s khdair
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    Source: Shaima’s khdair
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    Source: Shaima’s khdair
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Breika family boys group
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    Source: Breika family boys group
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    Source: Breika family boys group
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hilmi abu breika
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    Source: Hilmi abu breika
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    Source: Hilmi abu breika
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    Source: Hilmi abu breika
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    Source: Ramez zourob
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    Source: Rizan akram
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    Source: Rizan akram
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Nur
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    Source: Nur
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    Source: Aslam
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    Source: Aabodebreka
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Hamod
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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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Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (5 children4 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (54) [ collapse]