Israel and Gaza 2023

Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

Belligerent
Israeli Military
Country
Syria
the Gaza Strip
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Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

ISSY033

Incident date

April 29, 2023

Location

حمص, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.640616, 36.707550 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 29th 2023 the Israeli military reportedly launched missiles which Syrian air defence systems reportedly shot down around 12:55 am in the city of Homs, Syria. There were discrepancies in the accounts of the incident, with some sources reported that three civilians were injured while other reported that four Syrian soldiers were injured.

Local sources varied on their descriptions of the strikes and their resulting damage. Most accounts corroborate the timeline of the missile being launched at midnight and shot down, igniting a petrol station, fuel tankers and trucks.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also claimed that a munitions depot, under Hezbollah control was hit. SOHR – quoted in Aaswat News, Bladipresse, and Achrafieh News – verified that the missiles hit after midnight but claimed that it struck an ammunition depot belonging to the Lebanese “Hezbollah,” in the area of the Dabaa military airport in the countryside of Homs, which led to its complete destruction, as well as weapons trucks. There were a few accounts by the Observatory, including one claim by sources that the “the gas station belongs to a person affiliated with the Lebanese “Hezbollah”. The Observatory later reported that the incident injured “four Syrian soldiers, and destroying a truck carrying weapons belonging to (Hezbollah).” SOHR also reported that “violent explosions were heard as a result of the explosion of the ammunition stored in the warehouse, and fires were seen burning at the site, without information about human losses so far.”

A tweet from @aabnour quoted Intel Times Hebrew that identified the location as “a military convoy belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah, which was parked at the “Shahr Al-Alewi” gas station near the town of Shinshar on the Damascus-Aleppo road.”

Military sources, who were quoted by Aaswat News, Syrian Arab News Agency (Syrian regime-controlled news), BBC, Almehwar News and other media, claimed that three civilians were injured. Social media posts captured the fire outbreaks.

According to an Israeli website quoted on Halab Today TV,  the missile was prompted by an “Antonov 74” medium sized Iranian cargo plane’s activity in the area.  The IDF did not comment officially on this strike. Homs is near three air defense bases, one of which is in Shinshar, and two are near the suburb of Al-Andalus.

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 12:55 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Posted by Achrafieh News)
  • Location of the strike, posted by @HalabTodayTV.
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by Lebanese-forces)
  • Location of the strike, provided by Intel Times Hebrew and posted by @aabnour
  • Alleged Israeli strikes on Homs on April 29, 2023. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Israel bombed weapons depots in Homs, Syria, tonight. The bombing was the heaviest in years
  • From #Homs, last night - side effects indicate what was in storage

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an vehicles being struck in the vicinity of Shaher Alolaiwi Station (محطة شاهر العليوي). According to research conducted by @aabnour, the potential location of this strike is: 34.640616, 36.707550. Cross referencing evidence from audio-visual material from sources, we are however unable to confirm it as an exact location due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars.

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
    Gas facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Hezbollah
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–4

Incident Code

ISPT0022

Incident date

October 8, 2023

Location

مسجد اليرموك, Yarmouk Mosque, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.312024, 34.361819 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the evening of October 8th 2023, 12 people were reported injured, including a baby, when an alleged Israeli strike hit Yarmouk Mosque in the Gaza Strip. The mosque was reported to be completely destroyed.

A tweet from @ShehabAgency stated that 12 injured people arrived at the Al-Shifa Medical complex, while other sources mentioned that there were casualties without noting an exact toll. Images posted by various sources show a baby and an elderly woman injured near the mosque.

Felesteen News spoke to a witness named Bilal Salama (38 years old) who described what happened: “The bombing was sudden, without warning, we felt that the house was exploding, and after the smoke and dust cleared, the vision began to become clearer. I found my daughter bleeding from the impact of glass flying on her head. We all went down to check on my father and mother, who live on the ground floor and whose door opens directly onto the mosque. As you can see, we could not enter from here, so we went from the back and made holes in the walls, and we began removing the rubble until we reached my father and mother and some of the children, grandchildren, who were stuck under the stones that fell on them from the mosque.” Bilal Salama’s father and mother were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Felesteen News spoke to another witness named Hajj Jihad Jarour whose bulldozer, which is how he made his livelihood, was destroyed by the bombing: “We were sitting in the basement of the house, and suddenly we heard the bombing and the house shook and smoke filled the place. As you can see, everything is gone, the house and the tools. May God compensate us.”

The Palestinian Civil Defense reported on their teams dealing with the evacuation of citizens and the transfer of casualties from the surrounding area. Another local source specified that Ansar Central Ambulance Station evacuated the injured from the bombing.

The mosque was located near Ramzoun al-Ghafri on Al-Jalaa Street.

According to Felesteen News, the minaret at Yarmouk Mosque was silenced for the first time since the mosque was established in 1974. Felesteen News stated that “the bombing affected the area’s water lines and infrastructure” and “many of the houses surrounding the mosque are no longer fit for living”.

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

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Daughter of Bilal Salama
female injured
Father of Bilal Salama
male injured
Mother of Bilal Salama
female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Pharmacist Walaa Elmahallawi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

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    Source: Palestinian civil defense

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    Source: Palestinian civil defense

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    Source: M saleh

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bougara Demain

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bougara Demain

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bougara Demain

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    Source: Bougara Demain

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bougara Demain

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bougara Demain

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    Source: Bougara Demain

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Ahmad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Ahmad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Ahmad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Ahmad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Medical services - Gaza Strip

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mou’men Hassouna

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Yarmouk mosque (مسجد اليرموك) in Gaza city (غزة). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following coordinates: 31.312024, 34.361819.

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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
    Religious Institution, Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0031

Incident date

October 8, 2023

Location

مخيم النصيرات 5, Al Nuseirat Camp 5, Deir al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.453364, 34.390576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 8th 2023, a civilian home in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip was reportedly hit by an Israeli airstrike killing between four and five civilians from the same family, including at least two children, and wounding between 21 and 22 others.

According to Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, the Israeli airstrike occurred at approximately 4.30pm resulting in the destruction of the four storey Al-Assar family home and three neighboring houses, including the house belonging to the Al-Naqla family in Camp 5 in Al-Nuseirat. Al Mezan reported the death toll as four civilians killed, including two children and a woman.

The four victims killed have been identified by all sources as a family; the mother Shuruq al-Naqla (30 years old), her husband Mohammed al-Naqla (31 years old) and their two sons, Omar al-Naqla (three or four years old) and Yousef al-Naqla (five or six years old). On Facebook Bassem al- Naqla, Shuruq’s brother, reported that Mariam, their third child, was also killed in the attack. However, Amnesty International reported that their two year – old daughter Mariam and their three-year old nephew Abdel Karim were injured and were taken to hospital whereupon they were quickly released due to overcrowding. Around 20 others were also reportedly injured in the attack.

Ismail al-Naqla, Mohammed’s brother, told Amnesty International that their next-door neighbor received a warning call from the Israeli military around 10:30am so Ismail and Mohammad and their families left the home. However, since the bombing hadn’t occurred by 3:30pm, the al-Naqla family had quickly returned home to collect essential items when the bomb struck. They hoped it would be safe to return home as 5 hours had elapsed without a bomb since their neighbors received the call to evacuate earlier that morning. Ismail described to Amnesty “seeing part of his five-year-old nephew Yousef’s brain “outside of his head” and said that three-year-old Omar’s body could not be recovered from under the rubble until the next day.”

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

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

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured at approximately 4:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Shuruq al-Naqla شروق النقلة
30 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 804530368
Mohammed al-Naqla محمد النقلة
31 years old male Shuruq's husband killed Matched to MoH ID 803829480
Omar al-Naqla عمر النقلة
3 years old male their son killed Matched to MoH ID 442300653
Yousef al-Naqla يوسف النقلة
5 years old male their son killed Matched to MoH ID 438190076
Mariam al-Naqla مريم النقلة
2 years old female their daughter - unclear if she was killed or injured injured
Abdel Karim عبد الكريم
3 years old male Shuruq's nephew injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–22
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Ismail Al Hor

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zakaria Al Qatrawi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Ismail Al Hor

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nuseirat Municipality

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nusiyerat

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Al Nuseirat Camp 5 (مخيم النصيرات 5) northeast of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.453364, 34.390576.

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  • Imagery:
    Zakaria Al Qatrawi

  • Imagery:
    Arabiaa News

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
    4 – 5
  • (2–3 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–22
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0145

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

الجنينة, Al Geneina, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.296461, 34.243759 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 12 October 2023, an alleged Israeli strike hit the home of Magdy Abu Hilal, on Aed al-Bashiti street in the El Geneina neighbourhood of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip killing at least three civilians, including at least one child. Journalist Adel Alzaarab Official said the strike was conducted in the evening.

Multiple sources identified the victims as brothers, 34 year old Musab Magdy Abu Hilal and 24 year old Jihad Magdy Abu Hilal, portrayed as two young men, who were the sons of Magdy Abu Hilal and Umhm Musab Abu Hilal. Their third brother, Abdullah, had allegedly died two days before, according to Suhayb Abu Nada on Facebook. A third victim, a child, was identified as Khalil Asaad Ardah Al-Shaer. His exact age was not specified.

On Facebook, Umm Mohammad Abu Hilal referred to “two massacres” which hit her family the same day, the first one killing two brothers, and the second one leading to the death of Amani Muhammad Hassan Abu Hilal and her children. The second incident has been coded separately as ISPT0145a. Several local sources claimed that 12 members of Abu Hilal family were killed – though Airwars could only identify eight victims in the two separate attacks. @esraasaid2 on Twitter affirmed that among those 12 victims, three infants “born 10 days ago” were killed, without specifying in which incident they were killed or providing their names while another source indicated that the youngest victim was a 10 day-old baby.

Airwars’ maximum death toll estimates for this incident and for ISPT0145 was set at 12, as no further information was available regarding these four additional victims. As such, it is possible that the maximum number of victims overlaps. Airwars will update its estimates when more information comes to light.

A relative of the family, Um Mohammad Abu Hilal, mourned the two brothers Musab and Jihad on social media.

When sources identified a belligerent, they attributed the strike to the Israeli forces.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Musab Magdy Abu Hilal مصعب ابو هلال
34 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802479725
Jihad Magdy Abu Hilal جهاد ابو هلال
24 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 404555740

The victims were named as:

Khalil Asaad Arada Al-Shaer خليل اسعد عراده الشاعر
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 12
  • (1–3 children)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: HaSan Khalid

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhayb Abu Nada

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Al-Shaer Family in the country and diaspora

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Eng-Moutasm Abd

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmoud Abu Helal

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Learn English with Alaa

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Geneina (الجنينة) to the east of  Rafah (رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.296461, 34.243759. 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,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[34.2763566,31.2703071],[34.2754769,31.2702704],[34.2694258,31.2697202],[34.2615079,31.26906],[34.2608857,31.26906],[34.2573881,31.2715176],[34.2584609,31.2724896],[34.261701,31.2745253],[34.2650699,31.2768361],[34.267795,31.2787617],[34.2682993,31.2790551],[34.2702841,31.277212],[34.2720329,31.2756211],[34.2721724,31.2750067],[34.2724406,31.2745482],[34.2729127,31.2738238],[34.2745649,31.2722191],[34.2755091,31.2714213],[34.2762172,31.2706693],[34.2763566,31.2703071]]]}}]}

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
    3 – 12
  • (1–3 children)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0163

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

بيت لاهيا, Beit Lahia, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.551277, 34.509233 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During the evening of Thursday October 12th 2023, local news and social media reported that the Alyan family house in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip was bombed in an alleged attack of Israeli airplanes, resulting in a number of killed and injured civilians.

Facebook user Mohmd Aljmmal reported that according to the local sources there were more than 10 people in the house at the time of the strike. All other sources only alleged that civilians were killed and injured, providing no further information on the victims’ identities and their status. Airwars has used a conservative casualty estimate of at least two civilians killed and two injured and will update the record should more information come to light.

Where sources identified a belligerent, the strike was attributed to the Israeli military. According to a Facebook user Mohmd Aljmmal, the attack happened without a prior warning.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fatah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: QudsNetAgency

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Beit Lahia (بيت لاهيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.551277, 34.509233. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0177

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Location

تل الزعتر, Tal al Zaatar, northern Gaza Strip, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.533112, 34.504583 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around 11:25 in the morning on Friday, October 13th, 2023, at least 14 identified civilians from the Safi and Kaloub families, including at least four women and nine children, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Safi family home in the Tal al-Zaatar area in the northern Gaza Strip. A 37-year old Inshirah Ismail Musa Safi was killed in this deadly attack alongside her five children.

Nabd news initially reported that “3 martyrs were recovered from the Safi family home”. Shehab Agency later stated that the number of civilians killed in the bombing had risen to six, with Qana24, Sawt al Watan News and RT News later updating the civilian death toll to nine, and multiple sources on social media corroborating the same. Based on the testimonies by family members, Airwars identified 14 family members of the Safi and Kaloub families who were killed.

A 63-year-old Abdulkarim Hasan Safi was killed alongside his 62-year-old wife Lubna Abdulaziz Ahmad Safi and their possible grandchildren, an 18-year old girl Sondos Abdulkarim Hasan Safi, a 15-year-old boy Majdi Abdulkarim Hasan Safi, and a 9-year-old boy Zakariya Abdulkarim Hasan Safi. Salsabeel Abdulkraim Hasan Safi and Omar Abdulkarim Hasan Safi have been also listed as victims, but their age is unknown.

A Facebook user Mohammed Al Zanin Abu Rafat mourned the death of a 29-year old man Younis Abdulkarimel Qader Safi and the rest of his family members. He shared the pictures of the young bearded man in a white T-shirt along with a graphic picture of the Younis’s lifeless body in a white cloth stained with blood. The brother-in-law of Younis, Anwar Zomlot, also mourned his death in a Facebook post, sharing a black and white picture of Younis.

Toha Monir, possibly the wife of Younis, also posted a black and white image of her late husband and a prayer.

Nisreen al-Silawi, a relative of the Safi family, mourned the death of her aunt, a 37-year old Inshirah Ismail Musa Safi, and Inshirah’s five children, among them three sons: an 18-year old Abdel Muti Hassan Abdulkarim Safi, a 15-year old Muhammad Hassan Abdulkarim Safi, and a 12-year old Ahmed Hassan Abdulkarim Safi, and two daughters: a 17-year old Afnan Hassan Abdulkarim Safi, and a 9-year old Tala Hassan Abdulkarim Safi. She also indicated that the family was survived by Inshirah’s husband Hassan Safi, saying “prayers for patience and solace for my uncle Hassan Safi on the loss of his family.” Nisreen also shared some images of Inshirah’s children killed in the strike, including an image of a young smiling boy in a Chanel T-shirt.

Another relative, Mohammed Silawi, wrote in his Facebook post that his “sister and her children, the Safi family, are martyrs/May God have mercy on you, my beloved ones.” He attached an image of Insirah and Hassan and their five smiling children.

Other sources on social media, Mohammed Kalloub and Abu Nedal, listed the names of four additional victims of the bombing belonging to Kaloub family – 48 year old Hayat Kaloub, Hayat’s daughters, a 17-year old Shatha Omar Saber Kaloub (Kulub) and Amal Kaloub, and Hayat’s grandson Muhammad Jadallah (age unknown). It is unclear whether they were relatives of the Safi family present in the home at the time of the bombing, as Mohammed Kalloub also mourned the “martyrs of my cousin Safi family.” They also shared the images of two women in black hijabs, among them one being Hayat Kaloub, and a young boy Muhammad pictured against the sea background.

Where possible, Airwars has matched 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.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured at approximately 11:25 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hayat Kaloub (Um Mohammed) حياة كلوب
48 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901017798
Shaza Kaloub شذا كلوب
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424155307
Amal Kaloub امل كلوب
female killed
Mohammed Jadallah محمد جادالله
Child male killed

Family members (14)

Abdulkarim Hasan Safi عبدالكريم حسان صافي
63 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 907801658
Lubna Safi لبنى صافي
52 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 961058427
Sondos Abdulkarim Hasan Safi سندس عبدالكريم حسان صافي
18 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422489948
Salsabeel Abdulkraim Hasan safi سلسبيل عبد الكريم حسان صافي
Majdi Abdulkarim Hasan Safi مجدي عبد الكريم حسان صافي
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421778150
Omar Abdulkarim hasan Safi عمر عبدالكريم حسان صافي
male killed
Zakariya Abdulkarim hasan Safi زكريا عبدالكريم حسان صافي
9 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 434800579
Younis Abdulkarim Hasan Safi بونس عبدالكريم حسان صافي
29 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804810943
Inshirah Safi انشراح صافي
37 years old female Matched to MoH ID 801481102
Abdulmouti Hasan Abdulkarim Safi عبدالمعطي حسان عبدالكريم صافي
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421281205
Afnan Hasan Abdulkarim Safi الفنان حسان عبدالكريم صافي
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422747147
Mohammed Hasan Abdulkarim Safi محمد حسان عبدالكريم صافي
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 425842895
Ahmad Hasan Abdulkarim Safi احمد حسان عبدالكريم صافي
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430410316
Tala Hasan Abdulkarim Safi تالا حسان عبدالكريم صافي
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434241782

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (8–9 children4–5 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Kalloub facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Kalloub facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moahmmed Al Zanin ABu Rafat facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Moahmmed Al Zanin ABu Rafat facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Anwar Zomlot facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nisreen Alsilawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Toha Monir facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohamemd Silawi facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Nedal facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Nedal facebook

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Tal al Zaatar (تل الزعتر) to the east of Jabalia (جباليا). 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 Tal al Zaatar are: 31.533112, 34.504583.

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
    14
  • (8–9 children4–5 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0290

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

جوار مستشفى الكويتي, Vicinity of al Kuwaiti Hospital, Gaza strip, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.503611, 34.450833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday morning, October 17 2023, between 12 and 28 civilians were reported killed, including at least 2 children, and others were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a five-storey house behind the al-Kuwaiti hospital in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza.

While one source on social media claimed that there were 12 killed in the strike, media outlets like Shehab Agency and Alray reported on the death of 22 civilians. The Palestinian Information Center stated that 25 civilians had been killed, sharing video footage of the bodies of at least two children killed, one of whom appears to be an infant. Another source on social media, Jarad, shared an image of a middle-aged man in a press vest collapsed in grief. Sana news added that “others were injured” in the bombing, without specifying the number or details of those injured, while the Voice of the Nation newspaper quoted Shehab Agency and the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza as updating the death toll to 28 killed, alleging that: “While pressuring the residents of northern Gaza to move towards the south, Israel is intensifying its bombing of various areas of southern Gaza.”

Airwars will update the assessment if further details on the victims identities become available.

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

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 28
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jarad Jarad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of al Kuwaiti hospital (مسجد بلال بن رباح) in Rafah (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.503611, 34.450833. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Healthcare facility, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 28
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0266

Incident date

October 16, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة العرير على طريق الخلايل, al Khalayel Road, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.497167, 34.471646 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 16, 2023, 20 civilians were killed, including at least five children and three women, and a large number were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike that hit the al-Arair family home on Al Khalayel road, in the Al Shujaya neigborhood, Gaza City.

Asma Mohammed, Beit Dajan Today, News Najah, Nabd and al-Haya reported on social media that there were “martyrs and injuries in the bombing of the Al-Arair family’s house”, with Asma noting that people were transporting the casualties “in civilian cars”, sharing images of corpses and injured civilians being carried by other civilians. Mahmoud Harara shared a video of the injured being carried on stretchers and into ambulances, with others attempting to search the rubble of the destroyed building for survivors. He stated that there were “a large number of casualties”, and that “some were taken out and the rest were under the rubble.”

Abeer Aljna posted that “a house inhabited by dozens was bombed”, terming it a “massacre”, while the Gaza News Networks said the house, which belonged to Imad al-Arair, was allegedly bombed “without warning, with about 25 people in it.” Twitter/X user PSLK1154 noted that the alleged bombing took place in the afternoon and that there were “a large number of victims.” Solomon L Reer posted that there were 20 killed in the “al-Arair family massacre”, while Mossad al-Arair posted that two female civilians killed and a child were “still missing under the rubble.”

According to relatives on social media, among those killed are 58-year-old Imad al-Arair (Abu Umar), his wife Umm Umar, their sons 30-year-old Khaled al-Arair, 16-year-old Abd al-Qadir al-Arair and 31-year-old Umar al-Arair, Umar’s wife, and their daughter. Also killed were Imad’s daughter, her husband, her three children, as well as 37-year-old Deep al-Arair and Iyad al-Arair

Photos of the injured and deceased circulate social media and family and friends posted heartfelt and devastating messages. Esraa Aree wrote “a massacre against my family, the al-Arait family. Deep, my cousin, is a martyr, and a number of child martyrs. Some are still under the rubble.”

Muhammad Nabil wrote “My brother, my lover, and my lifelong companion, Umar al-Arair, is a martyr. Your separation is painful, my love.. May God give me patience over your separation, accept you, and grant you the highest paradise in heaven”, sharing an image of himself with Umar, a smiling bearded young man.

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

Where sources identified the belligerents all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

According to sources, the incident occurred in the afternoon and without warning.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (14)

Imad Al Arair عماد العرعير
58 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 907835706
Wife of Imad زوجة عماد
female killed
Khalid Al Arair خالد العرعير
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804669000
Abdulqadir Al Arair عبدالقادر العرعير
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424686491
Omar Al Arair عمر العرعير
31 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803759562
Wife of Omar زوجة عمر
female killed
Daughter of Omar ابنة عمر
female killed
Daughter of Imad ابنة عماد
female killed
Husband of Imad's daughter زوجها
male killed
Imad's grandchild حفيد
killed
Imad's grandchild حفيد
killed
Imad's grandchild حفيد
killed
Deeb Al Arair ديب العرعير
37 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 801517137
Iyad Al Arair أيدا العرعير
killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • (5 children3 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma mohammad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma mohammad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma mohammad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma mohammad

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Muhammad Nabil

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Also Solomon L. Reer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike on a residential building on the al Khalayel Road (طريق الخلايل), east of Gaza city (غزة). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.497167, 34.471646.

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  • Imagery:
    Mahmoud Harara

  • Imagery:
    Mahmoud Harara

  • Imagery:
    Mahmoud Harara

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
    20
  • (5 children3 women5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]