Conflict

Israel and Gaza (from 2023)

Incident Code

ISPT0008

Location

Abasan al-Kabira, Khan Younis, Palestinian territories
عبسان الكبيرة

Geolocation

31.327947, 34.345404
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: June 24, 2026

On October 7th 2023, 18 members of the same family, including at least seven children and four women, were reportedly killed in an alleged Israeli military airstrike, leaving at least one named survivor, 11 year-old Tala Abu Daqqa, with injuries. Other sources reported that between 25 to 150 civilians were injured.

The attack reportedly took place at 11pm in the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. It was reported that Israeli aircrafts directly targeted the house of the Abu Daqqa family with several missiles, leading to its collapse.

Multiple sources corroborated that at least five children were killed.

Fajir News reported that two days prior to the missile strike on the Abu Daqqa family, Ali Abu Daqqa had been speaking to a journalist about an appeal for him to undergo heart surgery. He spoke alongside his son Khaled who was hopeful for his father’s recovery – Khaled Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa was subsequently killed in the strike, aged 22. Khaled’s brother Qais Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, was also killed, aged 10, along with his older brother Asif Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa who was 25 years old and their younger sister Maryam Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, who was seven. The report added that their mother and two of their brothers survived and were pulled from the rubble, however no other sources reported that there were multiple survivors.

Saeed Abu Daqqa posted on Facebook that this was the family of Yasser (Muhammad) Abu Daqqa, 28 years old, who is currently being detained in an Israeli prison, with nine years remaining until his release. It was not immediately clear what Yasser Abu Daqqa was detained for. The victims included his mother 68-year-old Zainab Abu Daqqa, his siblings 33-year-old Hassan Muhammad Abu Daqqa and 33-year-old Hussein Muhammad Abu Daqqa, and their wives and their children. Based on familial names, Hussein’s children seven-year-old Lian Hussein Abu Daqqa, six-year-old Judy Hussein Abu Daqqa, three-year-old Sham Hussein Abu Daqqa, two-month-old Muhammad Hussein Abu Daqqa, and his twin sister Aseed Hussein Abu Daqqa were among those killed.

Multiple sources reported the names of the other victims, though did not provide further details on ages or family connections – family connections have been extrapolated based on familial names. The named victims were as follows: 22-year-old Muhammad Ismail Abu Hamad (Abu Daqqa), his sibling 18-year-old Uday Ismail Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, his sibling Dana Ismail Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, 59-year-old Nadia Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, 68-year-old Halima Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa, and 29-year-old Shaima Abdel Hadi Qadeeh (Abu Daqqa).

CNN reported that at least 13 members of the same family, including four toddlers, were killed by an Israeli airstrike, which also killed another four people and injured 25 others. Al Ghad TV reported about 150 people had been injured in the Abasan area.

Tala Abu Daqqa, 11, a survivor, was pictured crying in an image shared on social media. It is reported that her father, mother and three sisters were killed in the attack.

PCHR reported that the building consisted of three floors of concrete and the bombing resulted in the complete destruction of the house, further damaging surrounding houses. PCHR added that the victims were within the building, with no prior warning of the attack. Multiple sources support this claim with images of the building turned to rubble.

Mohammad Abu Daqqa, a relative of the Abu Daqqa family, told CNN that five residential buildings, each three or four stories tall, were destroyed in the strike. “They hit us with two or three barrels of explosives and brought the entire buildings down,” Abu Daqqa said. “We call on the Arab and European countries to interfere … and UN to solve this situation, because we are in a dire situation.”

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Since October 26, 2023 the MoH has released six lists, along with an additional list of medical professionals, which was released on September 17, 2024. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the first ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list, which was released on October 26, 2023.

On November 22, 2024, the Israeli military announced having killed PIJ commander “Khaled Abu Daqqa” the week prior. On February 24, 2026, Palestinian Islamic Jihad shared a tribute to a list of leaders and commanders who were killed in Gaza after October 7, 2023. “Commander Khaled Abu Daqqa” was among those named. An article from “About Violet” included testimony from the commander’s wife who echoed that he had been killed. Reviewing the timeline of these sources and images of the PIJ commander, it does not appear that this Khaled Abu Daqqa is the same person as Khaled Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa. As such, Khaled Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa has still been recorded as a civilian. This will be updated should additional information become available.

Victims

Family members (19)

Asif Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa عاصف علي ابو حمد أبو دقة
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 403080989
Khaled Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa خالد علي ابو حمد ابو دقة
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407068600
Qais Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa قيس علي ابو حمد ابو دقة
10 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 433722121
Maryam Ali Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa مريم علي ابو حمد ابو دقة
7 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 436135966
Zainab Abu Daqqa زينب ابو دقة
68 years old female Mother of the prisoner Yasser Abu Daqqa killed Matched to MoH ID 914793054
Hassan Muhammad Abu Daqqa حسان محمد ابو دقة
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802621334
Hussein Muhammad Abu Daqqa حسين محمد ابو دقة
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802621326
Lian Hussein Abu Daqqa ليان حسين ابو دقة
7 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 436122436
Judy Hussein Abu Daqqa جودي حسين ابو دقة
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 438508723
Sham Hussein Abu Daqqa شام حسين ابو دقة
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 443227665
Muhammad Hussein Abu Daqqa محمد حسين ابو دقة
Under 1 male killed Matched to MoH ID 444468227
Aseed Hussein Abu Daqqa اسيد حسين ابو دقة
Under 1 male killed Matched to MoH ID 444468235
Muhammad Ismail Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa محمد اسماعيل ابو حمد ابو دقة
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406968321
Uday Ismail Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa عدي اسماعيل ابو حمد ابو دقة
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421255936
Dana Ismail Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa دانا اسماعيل ابو حمد ابو دقة
female killed
Nadia Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa نادين ابو حميد ابو دقة
59 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 412449696
Halima Abu Hamad Abu Daqqa حليمة ابو حمد ابو دقة
68 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 700206055
Shaima Abdel Hadi Qadeeh, Um Alaa شيماء عبدالهادي قديح ام علاء
29 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 804511202
Tala Abu Daqqa تالا ابودقة
female injured

Key Information

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Abasan al-Kabira (عبسان الكبيرة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Abasan al-Kabira are: 31.327947, 34.345404.

Military Statements

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

Sources (22)

SarayaMirror
24 Feb 2026

Arabic

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Source ID

490015

Archive URL

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Date

24 Feb 2026

Source Author

SarayaMirror

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Al-Quds Brigades Military Media (Official): A group of Al-Quds Brigades commanders who were martyred during the heroic #AlAqsaFlood battle...AlQuds Brigades - Military Media

Content

سرايا القدس الإعلام الحربي (الرسمية)كوكبة من قادة سرايا القدس الذين ارتقوا شهداء خلال معركة #طوفان_الأقصى البطولية..سرايا القدس - الإعلام الحربي

Media from SarayaMirror (1)

About Violet
23 May 2025

Arabic

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Source ID

490019

Archive URL

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Date

23 May 2025

Source Author

عن بنفسج

Source Author Translated

About Violet

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

"The assassination of the leader Khaled Abu Daqqa..." She reread the news again and again until she reached ten, repeating it with trembling hands as if she were memorizing it. The phone fell, and she heard a shattering sound, but it was only the sound of her wounded heart. Her legs wouldn't carry her to her feet to embrace her child, who was sitting in front of her watching cartoons. He noticed her muffled sobs and asked gently, "Mama, what's wrong?" She hugged him, and her wailing grew louder. He repeated the question, "Did Daddy get martyred?" Between her sobs, she asked, "Do you know what that means?" He replied, "It means he went to heaven, and we'll join him later." She fell silent, and all she wanted at that moment was to cry, but in the arms of her life partner, Khaled, who had been the best husband and friend to a girl battling cancer, her first and only support. Today, Bara’a al-Raqab recounts the story of the leader, engineer Khaled Abu Daqqa, whom she married knowing his fate would be martyrdom, being pursued, or imprisonment. During the war, she expected his assassination but consoled herself with the hope of reuniting. She tells us about another side of him—in his home with his child—about receiving the news of his martyrdom, and her forced departure due to severe illness, leaving Khaled alone in Gaza, longing for one last embrace. The Day Khaled Was Taken On November 20, 2024, while battling cancer in Cairo hospitals with her five-year-old son, Baraa was scrolling through social media when she saw her brother-in-law post the news of his death. She says, "It was a terrible moment. I was far from home, longing for my husband, fighting my illness alone, when suddenly I received the news of his assassination. I knew he was a target, but I still had hope for his survival and our reunion. The days after his passing were bitter, alive but without a soul, and I still live through them." Before leaving, Baraa and her son had been displaced, living in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. One bloody night, Khaled arrived, his head bleeding. The little boy was terrified, and his hair began to turn gray from the horror of what he had witnessed. Baraa adds to Banafsej: “My health deteriorated due to cancer, and no treatment was available in Gaza. Khaled asked me to travel before my condition worsened. I refused to leave him, and he refused to abandon his resistance work. After his insistence, my son Ahmed and I traveled, only to endure further pain on top of our unhealed suffering.” Read also: Journalist Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali: Death by Burning, the Price of Truth Two hours before his assassination, he called her to tell her how much he loved her. Her heart trembled as she replied, “I love you too… Stay well for our sake… We can’t live without you.” He advised her to be patient at the initial shock, and Baraa sensed her impending death. His voice kept echoing in her ears; she tried to commit his words to memory, not knowing why, but she didn’t want to forget him. Even after his assassination, she remembered his last words and said, “O God, reward me for my affliction and replace it with something better.” Her son, Ahmed, wept with her. Since the day he passed away, he asks every night to see his pictures with Khaled. Banafsej adds, "He keeps repeating all day, 'May God have mercy on you, Dad,' and he takes a pen and paper and draws a picture of a grave. He tells me, 'The Day of Judgment will come soon, and we will meet Dad.'" "Daddy Khaled" Bara'a interrupts her account of the moment she received the news of his passing and saw the pictures of his funeral without being able to give him a final farewell kiss. Her memory takes her back to 2017 when Khaled saw her giving a lecture in dentistry and said, "There she is." He proposed to her, and she accepted immediately. They were blessed with a son, Ahmed, whom she gave birth to under very difficult circumstances. They shared both good times and bad. Speaking to Banafsej, her voice hoarse from crying, she said, "I had to give birth to Ahmed prematurely in my seventh month because of a pituitary tumor. Khaled was the best husband and father I've ever known. I consider myself lucky to have married him. He would drop everything and stay by my side for days, despite his demanding work and the sensitive nature of his position." Wiping away her tears, she continued, "Every time my health deteriorated, he supported me wholeheartedly. I fought the illness for him. When I was working, he would bring me food during my shift and drive me home. He would bring me flowers if I failed an exam or a task, and he would choose gifts I loved. He was an ideal man, and everyone who knew him knows it. He is a great loss to Gaza." Khaled was a loving father who took his young son with him on every outing. Bara'a says with a smile, "Ever since Ahmed was a month old, he'd take him everywhere. I'd say, 'Hey, the boy's so young, why are you taking him around here and there?' And he'd reply, 'I'm so happy! I'm finally a dad! Let me be happy with him!'" Read also: Aya Abu Sakheel: When Memories Turn into Elegies Little Ahmed remembers his father Khaled well. He lists the toys Khaled brought him and the promises he received from him. After Khaled's passing, Ahmed asks, "Who will bring me toys and birds? Who will drive us? Who will keep their promise and bring me the rabbit I want?" Baraa and Khaled were planning to move to a new house with a garden, and their friend promised to plant it himself, so it would be their paradise on earth. But he departed as a martyr, facing death without hesitation, having sought martyrdom since a young age until he attained it at the age of thirty-six. This is what comforts his friend and beloved, who has never known a man as tender as him. She concludes her conversation with Banafsej: "Khaled always advised me to have a pure heart, to forgive and not hold grudges against anyone, and to make sure Ahmed memorizes the Quran. I will remain true to that promise until my last breath."

Content

"اغتيال القيادي خالد أبو دقة".. أعادت قراءة الخبر مرة واثنتين حتى وصلت العاشرة، تردده ويديها ترتجفان وكأنها تحفظه، سقط الهاتف فسمعت صوت تهشم لكنه لم يكن إلا صوت قلبها المجروح، لم تسعفها قدمها للنهوض لاحتضان طفلها الجالس أمامها يتابع الكرتون، فانتبه على صوت بكائها المكتوم، فقال بنبرة رقيقة: "ماما مالك؟" فعانقته وارتفع صوت النحيب، فأعاد السؤال: "بابا استشهد"؟ فسألته من وسط شهقاتها: "بتعرف شو يعني"؟ فرد: "يعني راح على الجنة واحنا بنلحقه بعدين". فصمتت وكان كل ما توده بتلك اللحظة أن تبكي ولكن بين أحضان رفيق الدرب خالد الذي كان نعم الزوج والصديق لفتاة طالها مرض السرطان فكان داعمها الأول والأبدي. اليوم تروي براءة الرقب عن القيادي المهندس خالد أبو دقة، الذي تزوجته رغم علمها أن مصيره سيكون شهيدًا أو مطاردًا أو أسيرًا، وفي الحرب توقعت اغتياله ولكنها أصبرت نفسها بأمل باللقاء، تخبرنا عن وجه الرجل الآخر في بيته ومع طفله، عن تلقيها نبأ استشهاده، وسفرها قسرًا لمرضها الشديد، ليظل خالد وحيدًا في غزة مشتاقًا لعناق أخير. يوم ترجل الخالد في 20 نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني 2024، وبينما تكافح براءة السرطان في مشافي القاهرة رفقة طفلها البالغ من العمر 5 سنوات، كانت تتصفح مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، لتجد شقيق زوجها يكتب الخبر ويتلوه بنعي، تقول: "كانت لحظة قاسية أنا في الغربة مشتاقة لزوجي، أقاتل مرضي وحدي، وفجأة يأتيني خبر اغتياله، كنت أعلم أنه مستهدف ولكني كان لدي أمل بنجاته الحتمية وباللقاء الأكيد، عشت أيامًا بعد رحيله مريرة، على قيد الحياة ولكن دون روح، وما زلت أعيشها". قبل السفر عاشت براءة وطفلها نازحين في مشفى ناصر في خانيونس جنوبي غزة، وفي ليلة دامية، جاء خالد مصابًا يقطر رأسه دمًا، فارتعب الصغير وبعدها ظهرت شعيرات شيب في رأسه من هول ما عاش. تضيف براءة لبنفسج: "ساءت حالتي الصحية إثر السرطان، ولم يكن أي علاج متاح في غزة، فطلب مني خالد السفر قبل أن تتدهور حالتي أكثر، لم أقبل أبدًا أن أتركه، وهو لم يقبل ترك عمله الجهادي، وبعد إصرار منه سافرنا أنا وابني أحمد، لنعيش ألمًا آخر فوق آلامنا التي لا تندمل". اقرأ أيضًا: الصحفي إبراهيم الشيخ علي: الموت حرقًا ثمن الحقيقة قبل اغتياله بساعتين هاتّفها ليخبرها بمدى حبه، فارتعش قلبها لترد عليه: "وأنا بحبك.. ضلك بخير عشانا.. بنقدرش بدونك". فأوصاها بالصبر عند الصدمة الأولى، لتشعر براءة بقرب الأجل، بقي صوته يتردد في أذنها تحاول تثبيت حديثه في عقلها لا تعلم لماذا ولكنها لا تود نسيانه، حتى الاغتيال فتذكرت وصيته وقالت: "اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي واخلفني خيرًا منها". أما طفلها أحمد بكى برفقتها، ومن يوم فراقه يطلب كل ليلة أن يرى صوره مع خالد، تردف لبنفسج: "بضل يردد طول اليوم الله يرحمك يا بابا ويمسك ورقة وقلم ويرسم شكل القبر، وبحكيلي القيامة رح تقوم عن قريب وهنلتقي ببابا". "بابا خالد" تقطع براءة حديثها عن لحظة تلقيها نبأ الرحيل، ومشاهدتها لصور جنازته دون أن تحظى بقبلة وداع أخيرة، لتعود بالذاكرة إلى العام 2017 حين رآها خالد خلال إلقائها محاضرة في مجال طب الأسنان، فيقول: "ها هي". ويتقدم لخطبتها لتوافق على الفور، رزقا بأحمد لاحقًا لتنجبه في ظروف صعبة جدًا، وعاشا معًا على الحلوة والمرة تقول لبنفسج بصوتها المبحوح من بكائه: "اضطررت لإنجاب أحمد في الشهر السابع بسبب إصابتي بورم في الغدة النخامية، فكان خالد نعم الزوج والأب آنذاك، لأغبط نفسي على ما حظيت من حظ بزواجي به، إذ كان يترك كل شيء ويبقى بجانبي بالأيام على الرغم من انشغاله بعمله وحساسية منصبه". تكمل وهي تمسح دموعها: "في كل مرة كانت تتدهور حالتي الصحية كان يدعمني بقوة، فأحارب المرض لأجله، وحين كنت أعمل يأتيني بالطعام خلال دوامي، ويصطحبني في طريقه إلى البيت، يجلب لي الورود أن أخفقت في امتحان أو عمل، وينتقي الهدايا التي أحب، كان رجلًا مثاليًا وكل من عرفه يعلم هذا، هو خسارة فادحة لغزة". كان خالد أبًا حنونًا، يصطحب صغيره معه في كل المشاوير، تقول براءة مبتسمة: "كان أحمد منذ أن كان عمره شهرًا، يأخده معه كل مشوار أقله يا زلمة الولد صغير شو بدك فيه تضل تلفلف هان وهان، فيرد أنا طاير من الفرحة أخيرًا صرت بابا سيبني أفرح عليه". اقرأ أيضًا: آية أبو سخيل: حين تتحول الذكريات إلى مراثي يذكر الصغير أحمد والده خالد جيدًا، ويعدد لوالدته الألعاب الذي أحضرها، والوعود الذي حصل عليها من خالد وبعد رحيله يسأل أحمد: "من سيجلب لي الألعاب والعصافير؟ من سيقود السيارة بنا؟ من سيفي بوعده ويأتي بالأرنب الذي أريد".  براءة وخالد كانا يخططا النقل إلى بيت جديد مع حديقة، ووعدها الرفيق أن يزرعها بنفسه، لتكون جنتهم على الأرض، لكنه رحل شهيدًا مقبلًا غير مدبر، طالبًا للشهادة منذ عمر مبكر حتى نالها بعمر السادسة والثلاثين، وهذا ما يواسي صديقته وحبيبته التي لم تر في حياتها رجلًا في حنانه. تختم حديثها لبنفسج: "كان خالد يوصيني دائمًا أن أكون بقلب أبيض، أسامح ولا أحمل ضغينة لأحد، وأن أجعل أحمد من حفظة كتاب الله،وأنا على العهد حتى الرمق الأخير".

Media from About Violet (2)

IDFSpokespersonArabic
22 Nov 2024

Arabic

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Source ID

490026

Archive URL

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Date

22 Nov 2024

Source Author

IDFSpokespersonArabic

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

🔻The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated the commander of the Islamic Jihad's rocket unit in the Gaza Strip.🔻An IDF aircraft, acting on precise intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, carried out an airstrike last week, eliminating Khaled Abu Daqqa, the commander of the Islamic Jihad's rocket unit, who was operating within the humanitarian zone in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. 🔻Abu Daqqa was a key figure in overseeing and executing numerous terrorist attacks and directed and led Islamic Jihad terrorist operations targeting Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. ⭕️Since October 7, Abu Daqqa had been supervising rocket launches toward Israeli communities near the Gaza border and had directed numerous operatives who carried out these launches. ⭕️Prior to the strike, measures were taken to minimize the likelihood of civilian casualties, including the use of precision munitions, intelligence gathering, and aerial reconnaissance. ⭕️The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to target anyone involved in terrorist activities against Israeli citizens and work to achieve the war's objectives

Content

🔻جيش الدفاع والشاباك قضيا على قائد الوحدة الصاروخية للجهاد الإسلامي في قطاع غزة🔻أغارت طائرة لسلاح الجو بتوجيه استخباري دقيق من هيئة الاستخبارات والشاباك والقيادة الجنوبية وقضت خلال الأسبوع المنصرم على المدعو خالد أبو دقة قائد الوحدة الصاروخية في الجهاد الإسلامي والذي كان يعمل داخل المنطقة الإنسانية في دير البلح وسط قطاع غزة. 🔻وكان المدعو أبو دقة عنصرًا مهمًا في الإشراف والتنفيذ على مخططات أرهابية هجومية عديدة وأدار وقاد الأعمال الارهابية التي نفذها الجهاد الإسلامي والتي استهدفت مواطني إسرائيل وجنود جيش الدفاع. ⭕️في السابع من أكتوبر ومنذ ذلك التاريخ أشرف المدعو أبو دقة على عمليات إطلاق القذائف الصاروخية نحو بلدات غلاف غزة وأدار العديد من النشطاء الذين نفذوا عمليات الإطلاق. ⭕️قبل الغارة تم اتخاذ خطوات من شأنها تقليص احتمالية اصابة المدنيين بما في ذلك استخدام أنواع الذخيرة الدقيقة ومعلومات استخبارية واستطلاع جوي. ⭕️سيواصل جيش الدفاع والشاباك استهداف كل من ينورط بأنشطة ارهابية ضد مواطني إسرائيل والعمل على تحقيق أهداف الحرب

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