Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0011

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

ابيت حانون, Beit Hanoun, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.538582, 34.537000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 7, 2023, Israeli forces reportedly bombed the Shabat family home in Beit Hanoun, killing between 12 to 19 civilians and trapping an unknown number of others under rubble. Between 10 and 13 children and a woman have been reported among the dead.

Two sources, Khalid Abdel Rahman alongside Mezan daily report, reported the bombing on October 7 without indicating the time of the attack, while later on, the organisation Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP) claimed that the strike took place on October 8 at 3 am. Other sources reported that rescue efforts were ongoing that same day. Facebook user Tikrit Time alleged that the strike took place without warning.

Radio Alzaytonah and a number of Facebook users subsequently posted details pertaining to the people reportedly killed, listing them as Abdul Khaleq Muhammad Radwan Shabat (1 year old), Radwan Hassan Shabat (64 years old), Naima Jacir Shabat (65 years old), Muhammad Radwan Shabat (34 years old), Ibrahim Radwan Shabat (30 years old) ‎Asmaa Ali Shabat (35 years old), Diana Youssef Shabat (33 years old), Hassan Muhammad Shabat (12 years old), Layan Abdul Khaleq Shabat (13 years old), Bayan Abdul Qader Shabat (7 years old), Abdul Khaleq Khaled Shabat (5 years old), Gaith Khaled Shabat (3 years old), Muhammad Ibrahim Shabat (3 years old), Radwan Abdel Khaleq Shabat (8 years old), Sally Muhammad Radwan Shabat (3 years old), Sarah Muhammad Radwan Shabat (2 years old), Ali Muhammad Radwan Shabat (3 years old). The DCIP reported that two children in neighbouring houses were also killed: 11-year-old Mohammed Khater Maher al-Kafarneh and 16-year-old Rula Nael Zakaria Naseer. There were some discrepancies in the reported ages by one or two years and Naima Jacir Shabat might also have gone by Kifaya.

Ibrahim Radwan Shabat was identified as the father of three year old Muhammad Ibrahim Shabat. Ibrahim was an employee at Big Market. Abdul Khaleq Khaled Shabat and Gaith Khaled Shabat were identified as siblings.

Reporting on this event, the Arabic-language news channel, Al Ghad TV, claimed, “Our correspondent from Gaza reported that Israeli warplanes bombed a house in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip and demolished it on top of its residents.” Regarding those killed and wounded, the outlet stated “Our correspondent confirmed the fall of a number of [dead] as a result of the bombing that targeted a house belonging to the Shabat family, while attempts are currently being made to extract the living from under the rubble of the targeted house.”

In the days that followed this incident, photographs reportedly showing the funerals of those killed and a destroyed building were shared by Facebook users. Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes 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.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (17)

Abdul Khaleq Muhammad Radwan Shabat عبدالخالق محمد رضوان شبات
1 years old male killed
Radwan Hassan Shabat رضوان حسن شبات
66 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 917189169
Naima Jacir Shabat (Kifaya) نعيمة جاسر شبات
67 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 944396753
Muhammad Radwan Shabat محمد رضوان شبات
34 years old male killed
Ibrahim Radwan Shabat ابراهيم رضوان شبات
30 years old male killed
Asmaa Ali Shabat اسماء علي شبات
35 years old female killed
Diana Youssef Shabat ديانا يوسف شبات
33 years old female killed
Hassan Muhammad Shabat حسان محمد شبات
12 years old male killed
Layan Abdul Khaleq Shabat حسان محمد شبات
13 years old female killed
Bayan Abdul Qader Shabat بيان عبدالقادر شبات
7 years old female killed
Abdul Khaleq Khaled Shabat عبدالخالق خالد شبات
5 years old male killed
Gaith Khaled Shabat غياث خالد شبات
3 years old male killed
Muhammad Ibrahim Shabat محمد ابراهيم شبات
3 years old male killed
Radwan Abdel Khaleq Shabat رضوان عبدالخالق شبات
8 years old male killed
Sally Muhammad Radwan Shabat سالي محمد رضوان شبات
3 years old female killed
Sarah Muhammad Radwan Shabat سارة محمد رضوان شبات
2 years old female killed
Ali Muhammad Radwan Shabat علي محمد رضوان شبات
3 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Khater Maher Al-Kafarneh محمد خاطر ماهر الكفارنة
11 years old male killed
Rula Nael Zakaria Naseer رولا نائل زكريا ناصر
16 years old female killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Beit Hanoun (ابيت حانون). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.538582, 34.537000.

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  • Imagery:
    Source: Tikrit time facebook

  • Imagery:
    Source: Tikrit time facebook

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 19
  • (10–13 children1 woman2 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Radio Alzaytonah facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Radio Alzaytonah facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Radio Alzaytonah facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Samer Iyad facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tikrit time facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tikrit time facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Husam basel facebook
  • 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
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 19
  • (10–13 children1 woman2 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]