Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0322

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

شارع الحجة, al Hoja Street, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.534777, 34.498062 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 18th 2023, between five and 13 civilians were killed, including at least two children, and between 12 and 20 were wounded, including one infant and at least one woman, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on several residential buildings on Al-Houja Street in Jabalia Camp, north of the Gaza Strip. Hoda Muhammad al-Bas (5) and Uday Muhammad al-Bas (3) were the two children reportedly amongst those killed during this strike.

Reporting on this event in the early hours of October 19th, Shehab Agency stated, “5 [dead] and 12 injured have arrived at the Indonesian Hospital so far” after the alleged bombing of “a number of homes.” These details were subsequently repeated by outlets including al-Araby TV, the Egyptian Arabic-language newspaper Akhbar el-Yom and Asharq Al-Awsat. Images were shared of multiple explosions under the cover of darkness, and of wounded civilians clutching their children. The Palestine News SHFA shared an image of a massive explosion in an urban area which purportedly shows the scene at the time of the bombing.

In a statement dated at 3am, October 19th, the North Gaza Emergency Committee provided an update on those killed and wounded in the alleged bombing. The statement, shared by the Information Office of North Gaza Governorate Police on Facebook, reads “The number of martyrs increased to 13 martyrs and 20 injuries in the Al-Hoja Street massacre in Jabalia camp, and the number is likely to rise.” Other sources on local and social media posted a “number of martyrs and wounded” as a result of the alleged bombing of the home of the “al-Ghandour family.” A video shared by Ghasn showed a wailing infant being treated for injuries from the alleged bombing.

Describing the deaths of the two children, Facebook user Hamza Abu Eltarabesh shared a post on October 19th, stating, “Abu Nabil Muhammad Al-Bas, a colleague and childhood friend….He is mild mannered and calm like a summer cloud. He lost his two children in an Israeli raid that destroyed a residential square…(he) has been working as a nurse since the beginning of the aggression, and due to the pressure of work, he only saw Hoda and Uday once, when they turned into small corpses.” Huda shared images of the two children – Hoda, aged 5, a young smiling girl, and Uday, aged 3, a little boy smiling at the camera. Rowaid, a friend of Muhammed, shared condolences and an old image of Muhammad, a tall smiling man holding the hands of Hoda and Uday. Rowaid also wished Muhammad’s wife “a speedy recovery”. Muhammad himself posted a message after the death of the children, saying “Oh God, reward me for my misfortune and give me something better than it, O Lord” and “My dears, my dear/May God have mercy on you”

Airwars was not able to match the names of the children killed with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of names, October 26th 2023.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Hoda Muhammad al-Bas هدى محمد البس
5 years old female killed
Uday Muhammad al-Bas عدي محمد البس
3 years old male killed
Mother of Hoda and Uday
Adult female injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention al Hoja Street (شارع الحجة) in Jabalia camp (مخيّم جباليا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.534777, 34.498062. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1},"geometry":{"coordinates":[[34.50018157069567,31.533337277945378],[34.49963657452753,31.53369562114844],[34.498723995955174,31.53431845927865],[34.497981932216504,31.534801701936303],[34.496839654327744,31.535668689847697],[34.49624767089588,31.536031116833527],[34.49569737643776,31.536265627663568],[34.49522212213418,31.536571201497026],[34.49462180394954,31.53707575438419],[34.4944467102583,31.53729604998783],[34.494329981131216,31.53758740789273],[34.49410486067106,31.538255395752444],[34.49388807800614,31.538610706496556],[34.49354622841892,31.53902997143541],[34.49333778354796,31.53917209471591],[34.49324606780536,31.53922183781239]],"type":"LineString"}}]}

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: Miscellaneous, attitudes and jokes
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Muhammed
  • 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–20
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]