Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0423

Incident date

October 21, 2023

Location

خزاعة, Khuza’a, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.307314, 34.360372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 21, 2023, at least two people were killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike as they were riding a motorcycle in Khuza’a, east of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The victims were named as Nidal Atwa Qudeih and Nael Raja Qudeih, both of whom were adult males. Some sources reported that a third person was killed or critically injured, but the name of that possible casualty is currently unknown.

That day, @AlArabyTV reported on Twitter/X, “Martyrs as [Israeli military] aircraft targeted a motorcycle in Khuza’a, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.” Other sources, including @RoyaNews and @newsnajah tweeted that two people were killed by an airstrike while on a motorcycle. @ShehabAgency reported that three people were killed in this incident. On Facebook, Al Hadath posted a video showing two covered bodies with the headline, “Nidal Atwa and Nael Raja Qudeih, both farmers from the town of Khuza’a, east of the city of Khan Yunis, went to inspect their crops. They are hard-working people who work to earn a living and supervise lands planted with tomatoes and vegetables. The [Israeli] army killed them without mercy.”

Numerous mourners shared their grief online following the killings. On Facebook, Hmooda Abo Ali shared smiling photos of the two men who were killed, writing “What a heartache. My cousins are martyrs. There is no power but from God Almighty. Martyr Nael Raja Qudeih [and] Nidal Atwa Qudeih (Denino). May God have mercy on you.” Another Facebook user, Muhammad Abu Rida, shared a portrait of one of the men as well as a photo of the two bodies covered in white sheets as a crowd of mourners gathers in prayer behind them. The caption of this post reads “The rise of the two young sons of our town, Nael Raja Odeh Qudeih and Nidal Atwa Qudeih “Denino”, in a targeting in the town of Khuza’a, east of Khan Yunis.” In a post by Mohammed Qudeih, which included a video showing a large funeral procession with a crowd carrying the two shrouded bodies, the caption states, “The rise of the martyr Nael Raja Qudeih, The martyr Nidal Atouh Qudeih, May God have mercy on you and let you enter His spacious gardens. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”

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

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nidal Atwa Qudeih نضال عطوة قديح
42 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 906626072
Nael Raja Qudeih نائل رجاء قديح
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khuza’a (خزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.307314, 34.360372. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Majeddiyab
  • 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]