Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0054

Incident date

October 9, 2023

Location

مسجد أحمد ياسين و المسجد الغربي, Ahmed Yassin and Al Gharbi mosques, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.537005, 34.450766 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

31.533372, 34.443515 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 9th 2023, at approximately 4:30 am, three civilians, including two women and a young girl, were killed and a dozen civilians were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on Ahmed Yassin mosque and Al-Gharbi mosque located in the Al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Ahmed Yassin mosque is situated opposite the Al-Shati Elementary School.

A Facebook post from Sahar al-Jamal identified 14-year-old Amal Ramez, 15-year-old Retaj Youssef Al-Mashal, and 36-year-old Intifada Othman Al-Madhoun as among the dead. Simultaneously, the source identified a list of civilians injured in the strike who were transferred to the ‘Al-Shifa Medical Complex’: Mahmoud Ishaq Al-Hassi, 29 years old, injured; Atta Abu Klopp, 5 years old, injured; Razan Yousef Nisman, 27 years old, injured; Jamil Nesman, 32 years old, injured; Abdul Karim Al-Kalani, 47 years old, injured; Shadi Fakhr Al-Masry, 38 years old, injured; Muhammad Khaled Al-Nahhal, 37 years old, injured; Othman Mustafa Al-Hindi, 12 years old, injured; Aseel Mustafa Al-Hindi, 3 years old, injured; Abdul Karim Ahmed Htaht, 84 years old, injured; Ahmed Al-Nahal, 15 years old, injured; Ismail Muhammad Abu Nahl, 4 years old, injured. Condolences were posted by family members and friends of the three civilians killed.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported that the strike resulted in the death of two women and a young girl.

According to a report from Al Mezan Human Rights and images used by a CNN news report, the incident destroyed the four-storey Ahmed Yassin mosque. A post on Twitter/X from Salem Rbeh pointed out that the strike occurred while worshipers were there for dawn prayer. Alghad News reported five ambulances arriving at the scene at 6:58.

These casualties reflect all known incidents on three mosques (Ahmed Yassin mosque, the Western Mosque and Yarmouk Mosque), all located in the same area that day, as distinguishing the casualties from each mosque is not yet possible.

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 4:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Ishaq Al-Hassi محمود اسحاق الهسي
29 years old male injured
Atta Abu Klopp عطا ابو كلوب
5 years old female injured
Razan Yousef Nisman رزان يوسف نيسمان
27 years old female injured
Jamil Nesman جميل نسمان
32 years old male injured
Abdul Karim Al-Kalani عبدالكريم الكلاني
47 years old female injured
Shadi Fakhr Al-Masry شافي فخر المصري
38 years old male injured
Muhammad Khaled Al-Nahhal محمد خالد الناهل
37 years old male injured
Othman Mustafa Al-Hindi عثمان مصطفى الهندي
12 years old male injured
Aseel Mustafa Al-Hindi اسيل مصطفى الهندي
3 years old injured
Abdul Karim Ahmed Htaht عبدالكريم احمد هتهت
84 years old male injured
Ahmed Al-Nahal احمد ناهل
15 years old male injured
Ismail Muhammad Abu Nahl اسماعيل محمد ابو ناهل
4 years old male injured
Amal Ramez امل رامز
14 years old female killed
Retaj Youssef Al-Mashal ريتاج يوسف المسحال
15 years old female killed
Intifada Othman Al-Madhoun انتفاضة عثمان المدهون
36 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (25) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Abu Aila Libya facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Aila Libya facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Aila Libya facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Arood saqie facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Arood saqie facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Seif Alghoul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Seif Alghoul facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: New press
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salem Rbeh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salem Rbeh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salem Rbeh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salem Rbeh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Free Gaza facebook
    NYTGAZA Ahmed Yassin Mosque was destroyed by Israeli warplanes in Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Free Gaza facebook
    NYTGAZA Ahmed Yassin Mosque was destroyed by Israeli warplanes in Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Free Gaza facebook
    NYTGAZA Ahmed Yassin Mosque was destroyed by Israeli warplanes in Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Free Gaza facebook
    NYTGAZA Ahmed Yassin Mosque was destroyed by Israeli warplanes in Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: CNN News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: CNN News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: CNN News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Washington News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Washington News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ahmed Yassin mosque (مسجد أحمد ياسين) and the Al Gharbi mosque (المسجد الغربي), both in the Al Shati camp (مخيم الشاطئ). The generic coordinates for the Ahmed Yassin mosque are: 31.537005, 34.450766. The generic coordinates for the Al Gharbi mosque are: 31.533372, 34.443515. 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (31) [ collapse]