Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0050

Incident date

October 9, 2023

Location

بير النعجة, Bir Al Najah, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.541901, 34.488035 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Monday, October 9th 2023, 18 civilians, all members of the Abu Obaid family, including at least seven children and seven women, were reported killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike on their home in the Bir al-Naja area west of the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip. Two combatants were also reported killed, also members of the Abu Obaid family.

Initial reportage from the Jordan News Agency and Shehab Agency reported the death of two women and a girl, whose bodies were received at the Indonesian Hospital, while adding that “others were injured.” Defence for Children International noted that the bombing was without warning, and reported the death of seven civilians, including three children – Ismail Mohammad Ismail Salah (7) and his cousins Malak Mohammad Nasser Abu Obaid (15 or 16), and Karam Yousef Nasser Abu Obaid (17 or 18), further stating that the neighbors said “there were approximately 15 to 20 people inside the building, including some who were seeking refuge.” A possible neighbor of the family posted on social media that “the martyrs were more than 10”, and other sources including Refugee SPS and WAFA News mentioned “a number of” casualties”, the latter stating the victims’ house was “behind the communications headquarters west of the city.”

Posts by the family’s relatives on twitter, revealed the names of 18 civilians killed in the incident: Muhammad Youssef Abu Obaid (20), Karam Youssef Abu Obaid (17 or 18), Hamza Rami Abu Obaid (20), his mother Sanaa Abu Obaid (46), Nasr Rami Abu Obaid (19), Moatasem Rami Abu Obaid (16), Hajja Fatima Abu Obaid Umm Rami (72), Safaa Nasr Abu Obaid, Islam Abu Obaid (22 years old), Malak Muhammad Nasser Abu Obaid (15 or 16), Fatima Rami Abu Obaid (22), Asmaa Rami Abu Obaid, Hanan Abu Obaid (Umm Najd) and her five children: Hassan, Ismail (7), Salah, and Najd – the fifth child was not named.

Along with the civilians killed, the Abo Obaid family Facebook page referred to two people killed as “mujahid”, understood by Airwars to indicate militant status: Nasr Youssef Abu Obaid Abu Rami (different to 19-year-old Nasr Rami Abu Obaid according to local sources) and Youssef Nasr Abu Obaid Abu Muhammad.

Relatives of the family mourned the loss on online platforms, sharing posts such as “As we, the Abu Obaid clan in the homeland and the diaspora, mourn with all pride, and majesty a constellation of martyrs of the Abu Obaid family and all the martyrs in Gaza”, and “A massacre against my family/Abu Obaid family in Bir al-Naja/There is no power but from God”. Others on social media also grieved the deaths, alleging that the entire family had been killed, with one source sharing “an entire family was erased from the civil registry due to the Abu Obaid massacre”.

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

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

The incident occurred at approximately 6:45pm local time.

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 6:45 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (18)

Muhammad Youssef Abu Obaid محمد يوسف ابو عبيد
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408662492
Karam Youssef Abu Obaid كرم يوسف ابو عبيد
17 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 422564930
Hamza Rami Abu Obaid حمزة رامي ابو عبيد
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408662492
Sanaa Abu Obaid سناء ابوعبيد ام حمزة
46 years old female Hamza's mother killed Matched to MoH ID 900608548
Nasr Rami Abu Obaid ناصر رامي ابوعبيد
19 years old male killed
Moatasem Rami Abu Obaid معتصم رامي ابوعبيد
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 422841080
Hajja Fatima Abu Obaid Umm Rami الحاجة فاطمة ابو عبيد ام رامي
72 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 964805741
Safaa Nasr Abu Obaid صفاء ناصر ابوعبيد
Adult female killed
Islam Abu Obaid اسلام ابوعبيد
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407746361
Malak Muhammad Nasser Abu Obaid ملاك محمد ابوعبيد
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422841080
Fatima Rami Abu Obaid فاطمة رامي ابوعبيد
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407667260
Asmaa Rami Abu Obaid اسماء رامي ابوعبيد
Adult female killed
Hanan Abu Obaid (Umm Najd) حنان ابوعبيد
Adult female killed
Hassan حسان
Child male Hanan's son killed
Ismail اسماعيل
7 years old male Hanan's son killed
Salah صلاح
Child male Hanan's son killed
Najd نجد
Child Hanan's child killed
Hanan's fifth child الولد الخامس لحنان
Child killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bir Al Na’jah (بئر النعجة), west of Jabalia (جباليا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Bir Al Na’jah are: 31.541901, 34.488035.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (7–8 children7 women3 men)
  • 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (15) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Abo Obaid family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nadia Abo Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Baraa Abu Omar facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Abdullah Abu Obaid facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abo Obaid family facebook

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
    18
  • (7–8 children7 women3 men)
  • 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (20) [ collapse]