Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0024

Incident date

October 8, 2023

Location

عمارة أبو زهري بمدينة رفح, Abu Zuhri Building, Al Shaboura, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.284219, 34.258834 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 8th, 2023 at around 9:50pm, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the Abu Zuhri apartment building in the Al-Shaboura refugee camp, Rafah City, in the Gaza strip, and killed between four and five civilians, among them Jasser Marjouna, Jasser Marjouna’s wife, Abdulnaser Shabanah, and an infant and woman whose names are not published within the sources; the strike also injured between 20-55 civilians, including Wissam Sabah.

Abdulnaser Shabanah was killed on his wedding day, as reported by Thaer Mohamed, a fellow resident of the building. Jasser Marjouna was a leader in the Democratic Engineering Rally and a member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Syndicate, Rafah branch. @Shehab Agency and the Rafah City official Facebook page report that four civilians were killed, while the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) Gaza report that 5 civilians were killed in the attack. @ShehabAgency and Al-Watan Voice report that 20 civilians were injured, The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and PCHR Gaza report 30 civilians were injured from the attack, and @Ehabhelou reports that 55 civilians were injured.

Al Shabab radio, the Palestinian Press Agency @SafaPs, PCHR Gaza, and other sources all allege that Israeli aircraft were responsible for bombing the building. Alam Sabbah, the nephew of Wissam Sabah and resident of the Abu Zuhri building, reports the strike occurred without warning and caused massive destruction and injuries, with many residents having to go to the Abu Youssef Al Najjar hospital after. Raed Sabbah, another resident of the building, reported that the bombing completely destroyed two floors of the building, including the roof. Members of the Palestinian Civil Defense arrived to evacuate civilians and transport the dead after the attack.

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.

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 9:50 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Jaser Marjouna جاسر مرجونة
37 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800617219
Wife of Jaser Marjouna زوجة جاسر مرجونة
female killed

The victims were named as:

Wissam Sabah وسام صباح
Age unknown male injured
Abdulnaser Shabanah عبدالناصر شبانة
Age unknown male killed

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
  • (1 child2 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–55
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (46) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Raed Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Raed Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Raed Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Raed Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah city official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah city official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah city official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah city official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdallah Al Attar

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdallah Al Attar

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdallah Al Attar

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdallah Al Attar

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Democratic Engineering Rally

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Thaer Mohammed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Thaer Mohammed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Thaer Mohammed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Samer Karnab facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmoud Eyad facebook

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    Source: Mahmoud Eyad facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Free students national organistaion facebook

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    Source: Engineering democratic initiative facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Athmana facebook

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    Source: Ismail Athmana facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian civil defense

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Abu Zuhri apartment building (عمارة أبو زهري) in the Al Shaboura camp (معسكر الشابورة). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.284219, 34.258834.

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  • Imagery:
    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • Imagery:
    Source: Alam Sabbah

  • Imagery:
    Source: Alam Sabbah

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
  • (1 child2 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–55
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]