Conflict

Israel and Gaza (from 2023)

Incident Code

ISPT0079

Location

Bani Suhaila, Khan Younis, Palestinian territories
بني سهيلا

Geolocation

31.345841, 34.324911
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: February 27, 2026

On October 10th, 2023 at dawn, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Qara family’s house in the town of Bani Suhayla in eastern Khan Yunis in the Gaza strip, killing four civilian members of the Al-Qara family, and one militant.

The civilians were identified as Mohamed Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara (23 years old), his sister Waad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara (18 years old), his other sister Iman Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara and her three week old son Saif Abu Hagras. Another member of the family, eight year old Menna reportedly sustained injuries from the bombing, and was said to be the sole survivor of the strike.

Mohamed Ashraf Al-Qara’s father, Ashraf Ismail Jabr Al-Qara “Abu Muhannad” (53 years old), was also reportedly killed in the strike. He was referred by one source, Majed Al Masri, as a “Commander” (القائد ).

When Airwars first published this incident on November 1, 2023, the Al Qara family Facebook page referred to Ashraf as “professor”, but no other open sources were found to confirm that he was a militant.

As such, given that the term ‘Al-Qa’ed’ (القائد) is also often used to refer to family ‘leaders’, Airwars initially recorded him as a civilian. This decision was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status‘. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.

However, on February 26, 2026, the official page representing Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), published a list and photos of PIJ commanders who had been killed over the course of the preceding months. Ashraf was named as a “Signal Corps Commander – Khan Younis Brigade” and a photo of him was attached. As such, his status has been updated to militant.

All of the sources alleged that Israeli aircraft were responsible for the strike, and the Al Qara family reported that it was carried out at dawn, without warning.

Waad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara was preparing for her wedding which was planned for a few days later, as reported by the journalist Tareq Abu Ishak and the Palestine Live Now Facebook account. Esmaeel Omer reported that injured children were transported to Nasser Hospital, and Twitter/X accounts @PalinfoAr amd @SafaPs report there were several injuries as a result of the strike, but journalist Tareq Abu Ishak and the Palestine Live Now Facebook account both report that only one person, eight year old Menna, survived the strike on the Al Qara house. Earlier reports say there were between two to three deaths and multiple people injured, but later reports, including those from the Al-Qara family, report that five people were killed by the strike. Ashraf Ismail Jabr Al-Qara “Abu Muhannad”’s cousin Rami Abdulkarim, and uncle Majed Al Masri, mourned the loss of their family in Facebook posts.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the first, second, and fifth ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list.

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

Assessment Updates

27 February 2026
On February 26, 2026, the official website for the Al-Quds Brigade (سرايا القدس), the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), published a list of PIJ commanders who had been killed over the preceding months. Twitter/X user @Aizenberg55 tagged Airwars in a thread which showed the documentation posted by the Al-Quds Brigade, alongside a link to this Airwars incident in which Ashraf al-Qara had originally been recorded as a civilian. Upon review of the posts from @Aizenberg55's and the Al-Quds Brigade, Airwars updated this incident to reflect that Ashraf al-Qara was a militant, rather than a civilian.

Victims

Family members (5)

Mohamed Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara محمد اشرف اسماعيل القرا
23 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406081661
Waad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara وعد اشرف اسماعيل جبر القرا
18 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422499988
Iman Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara ايمان اشرف اسماعيل القرا
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408021152
Saif Abu Hagras سيف ابو هجرس
Under 1 male killed Matched to MoH ID 44062719
Menna
8 years old female injured

Key Information

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bani Suhaila (بني سهيلا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Bani Suhaila are: 31.345841,34.324911 .

Military Statements

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

Sources (19)

PalinfoAr
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326213

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

PalinfoAr

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Urgent | Two martyrs and several injuries were reported after the bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Qara family in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Content

عاجل| نقل شـ.ـ&ـ.ـيدتين وعدة إصابات بقصف منزل لعائلة القرا في بلدة بني سهيلا شرقي خانيونس جنوب قطاع غزة.
The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326216

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

عائلة القرا في الوطن والشتات

Source Author Translated

The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

"And never think that those who have been killed in the cause of Allah are dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision." (Quran 3:169) The Al-Qara family, both at home and abroad, announces the passing of: Professor Ashraf Ismail Jabr Al-Qara (Abu Muhand), His son Muhammad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara, His daughter Wa'ad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara, His daughter Iman Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara, and her son Saif Ashraf Abu Hajras, In the aftermath of the bombing of Professor Ashraf Ismail Jabr Al-Qara's house Without warning O Allah, grant them the ranks of martyrs, make their lives in their graves the life of the blessed, and make them companions of the prophets in Paradise. O Allah, ease their suffering in the grave and bless their final abode and destiny, O Most Kind, Most Loving. Grant them coolness of life in their grave and the pleasure of looking at Your noble face on the Day of Resurrection. O God, grant them forgiveness at the reckoning, victory in Paradise, and salvation from Hell by Your mercy, O Mighty, O Forgiving. O God, send down upon them light, radiance, spaciousness, and joy, and make them safe and secure in their grave, O Mighty, O Forgiving.

Content

"وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ"" صدق الله العظيم" تزف إليكم أسرة #عائلة_القرا_في_الوطن_والشتات ارتقاء كلاً من الاستاذ/#أشرف اسماعيل جبر القرا "ابو مهند" ابنه/محمد أشرف اسماعيل القرا ابنته/وعد أشرف اسماعيل القرا ابنته/ايمان أشرف اسماعيل القرا وابنها سيف أشرف أبو هجرس أثر قsف منزل الاستاذ أشرف اسماعيل جبر القرا دون تحذير اللهم أنزلهم منازل الشهداء واجعل عيشهم في قبرهم عيش السعداء واجعلهم في الجنة مرافقين للأنبياء، اللهم نفس في القبر كربتهم وبارك لهم في منقلبهم ومصيرهم يا لطيف يا ودود، اللهم أرزقهم برد العيش في قبرهم ولذة النظر إلى وجهك الكريم يوم القيامة، اللهم ارزقهم عفواً عند الحساب وفوزاً بالجنة ونجاة من النار برحمتك يا عزيز يا غفار اللهم أنزل عليهم الضياء والنور والفسحة والسرور واجعلهم آمنين مطمئنين في قبرهم يا عزيز يا غفور.
Tariq Abu Ishaq
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326219

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

طارق أبو إسحاق

Source Author Translated

Tariq Abu Ishaq

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

One of the most heartbreaking stories is that of bride Waad Ashraf al-Qara, who was preparing for her wedding, scheduled for a few days later. She died a bride in paradise after her home in Bani Suheila was targeted, killing her entire family. Only her eight-year-old daughter, Manah, survived and became the sole witness to the massacre committed by the occupation against her family. — Journalist Tariq

Content

من القصص المؤلمة العروس وعد أشرف القرا كانت تجهز لفرحها المقرر بعد أيام ولكنها قضت عروس في الجنة بعد استهداف منزلهما في مدينة بني سهيلا وارتقاء كل عائلتها وبقيت فقط الطفلة منة البالغة من العمر 8 أعوام وهي الناجيه الوحيدة والشاهدة على المجزرة التي ارتكبها الاحتلال بحق عائلتها الصحفي طارق
Esmaeel Omer
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326222

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

Esmaeel Omer

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Injured children arrived at Nasser Hospital as a result of the bombing of the Al-Qara family home in Bani Suheila, east of #KhanYounis

Content

أطفال مصابون وصلوا إلى مشفى ناصر نتيجة قصف منزل لعائلة القرا في بني سهيلا شرق #خانيونس

Media from Esmaeel Omer (1)

The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326226

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

عائلة القرا في الوطن والشتات

Source Author Translated

The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

The martyr, God willing, Muhammad Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara, who was martyred this morning after his house was bombed at dawn today without warning.

Content

الshهيد بإذن الله محمد أشرف إسماعيل القرا الذي ارتقى صباح هذا اليوم بعد قsiف منزله فجر هذا اليوم دون تحذير

Media from The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora (1)

The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326230

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

عائلة القرا في الوطن والشتات

Source Author Translated

The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

The martyr, God willing, Ashraf Ismail Jabr Al-Qara, who was martyred this morning after his house was bombed at dawn today without warning.

Content

الshهيد بإذن الله أشرف إسماعيل جبر القرا الذي ارتقى صباح هذا اليوم بعد قsiف منزله فجر هذا اليوم دون تحذير

Media from The Qara family in the homeland and the diaspora (1)

Paltodaytv
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326234

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

Paltodaytv

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Urgent | Two martyrs and several injuries were reported after the bombing of the Al-Qara family home in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis.

Content

عاجل | نقل شهيدتين وعدة إصابات بقصف منزل لعائلة القرا في بلدة بني سهيلا شرقي خانيونس.
shfanews_net
10 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

326237

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

10 Oct 2023

Source Author

shfanews_net

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Five Palestinians, including an infant and a woman, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Details: https://shfanews.net/post/153166 #AlAqsaFlood #JerusalemFlood #Palestine #AlQassamBrigades #Israel #Gaza #Jerusalem #Ramallah #Nablus #Hebron #Jenin #Israel #Libya #Lebanon #Jordan #Hamas #Gaza #Palestine

Content

5 شهداء بينهم رضيع وامرأة بقصف طائرات الاحتلال بني سهيلا شرق مدينة خان يونس جنوب قطاع غزة التفاصيل: https://shfanews.net/post/153166 #طوفان_الاقصي #طوفان_القدس #فلسطين #كتايب_القسام #اسرائيل #غزة #القدس #رام_الله #نابلس #الخليل #جنين #Israel #ليبيا #لبنان #الأردن #Hamas #Gaza #Palestine

Media from shfanews_net (1)

Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza
26 Oct 2023

Arabic

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Source ID

301209

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

26 Oct 2023

Source Author

وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية/ غزة

Source Author Translated

Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Airwars annotation: List 1 – released on October 26, 2023 and relating to the period between October 7, 2023 and October 24, 2023 Publicly saved to Google Sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DpyvHQlMAug43wY1ydbeIvIF01rcH4_-aMT9p-AWUVQ/edit?gid=1460537767#gid=1460537767

Content

Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza
7 Jan 2024

Arabic

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Source ID

301206

Archive URL

Archive

Source URL

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Date

7 Jan 2024

Source Author

وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية/ غزة

Source Author Translated

Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Martyrs Gaza until 2-11, South until 5-1.xlsx Martyrs Gaza until 2-11, South until 5-1.xlsx Airwars annotation: List 2 – released on January 21, 2024 and relating to the period between October 7, 2023 and January 5, 2024 for hospitals reporting in southern Gaza, and October 7, 2023 and November 2, 2023 for reports from northern Gaza Publicly saved to Google Sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DpyvHQlMAug43wY1ydbeIvIF01rcH4_-aMT9p-AWUVQ/edit?gid=1763066305#gid=1763066305

Content

الشهداء غزة حتى 2-11 الجنوب حتى 5-1.xlsx الشهداء غزة حتى 2-11 الجنوب حتى 5-1.xlsx
Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza
24 Jul 2024

Arabic

View

Source ID

301194

Archive URL

Archive

Source URL

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Date

24 Jul 2024

Source Author

وزارة الصحة الفلسطينية/ غزة

Source Author Translated

Palestinian Ministry of Health/Gaza

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Attachment from Eyadmoh Airwars attachment: List 5 – released on July 24, 2024 and relating to the period between October 7, 2023 and June 30, 2024 Publicly saved to Google Sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DpyvHQlMAug43wY1ydbeIvIF01rcH4_-aMT9p-AWUVQ/edit?gid=207058620#gid=207058620

Content

‏مستند من Eyadmoh
Aizenberg55
26 Feb 2026

English

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Source ID

402827

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

26 Feb 2026

Source Author

Aizenberg55

Languages

English

Content

Another @airwars "airstrike analysis" that concluded the IDF killed ONLY civilians in an Oct 10, 2023 attack has now been proven to have killed senior PIJ commander Ashraf al-Qara (ID 413317470, Age 53). This is the 3rd case found recently. Airwars will you update the data? 1/

Media from Aizenberg55 (1)

Al-Quds Brigades
26 Feb 2026

Arabic

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Source ID

402816

Archive URL

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Source URL

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Date

26 Feb 2026

Source Author

سرايا القدس

Source Author Translated

Al-Quds Brigades

Languages

Arabic

Translated Content

Military Media - Special Report The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, announced today, Thursday, the martyrdom of a group of its commanders with military expertise who fell during the heroic Battle of Al-Aqsa. The martyrs are: - Martyr Commander/ Muhammad Fayez Al-Hasani (Commander in the Central Operations Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Zakaria Fathi Abu Ghali (Commander in the Central Military Media Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Kamal Abdel Nasser Abu Ta’ima (Commander in the Central Coordination File) - Martyr Commander/ Ashraf Ismail Al-Qara (Commander of the Signals Corps - Khan Yunis Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Muhammad Nahed Katkat (Commander of the Information Unit - Northern Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Muhammad Abdel Ghani Al-Jazzar (Commander in the Central Coordination File) - Martyr Commander/ Hamza Muqallad Hamid (Commander of the Company Security Unit - Northern Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Mahmoud Abdel Rahim Al-Najjar (Commander in the Central Support and Logistics Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Al-Hassan Muhammad Hamid (Commander in the Central Company Security Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Assem Ibrahim Al-Batsh (Commander of Infrastructure - Northern Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Alaa Subh Al-Hour (Commander of the Financial Administration - Central Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Zaki Ishtiwi Al-Masri (Commander of the Signals Corps - Central Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Luqman Abdul Salam Anbar (Commander of the Artillery Unit - Gaza Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Ayman Suleiman Abu Teir (Commander in the Central Operations Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Muhammad Naeem Mansour (Commander in the Central Information Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Sami Musa Daoud (Commander in the Central Information Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Samer Shehadeh Al-Nuwairi (Commander in the Central Military Media Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Saed Ghazi Al-Babli (Commander in the Central Information Unit) - Martyr Commander/ Hassan Mahmoud Salah (Commander in the Infrastructure File - Northern Brigade) - Martyr Commander/ Hassan Yusri Al-Hattab (Commander in the Central Mobilization Unit)

Content

الإعلام الحربي - خاص  زفت سرايا القدس الجناح العسكري لحركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين، اليوم الخميس، كوكبة من قادتها من ذوي الاختصاصات العسكرية الذين ارتقوا خلال معركة طوفان الأقصى البطولية. والشهداء هم: - الشهيد القائد/ محمد فايز الحسني (قائد في وحدة العمليات المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ زكريا فتحي أبو غالي (قائد في وحدة الإعلام الحربي المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ كمال عبد الناصر أبو طعيمة (قائد في ملف التنسيق المركزي) - الشهيد القائد/ أشرف إسماعيل القرا (قائد سلاح الإشارة - لواء خانيونس) - الشهيد القائد/ محمد ناهض كتكت (قائد وحدة المعلومات - لواء الشمال) - الشهيد القائد/ محمد عبد الغني الجزار (قائد في ملف التنسيق المركزي) - الشهيد القائد/ حمزة مقلد حميد (قائد وحدة أمن السرايا – لواء الشمال) - الشهيد القائد/ محمود عبد الرحيم النجار (قائد في وحدة الدعم والإمداد المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ الحسن محمد حميد (قائد في وحدة أمن السرايا المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ عاصم ابراهيم البطش (قائد البنية التحتية - لواء الشمال) - الشهيد القائد/ علاء صبح الهور (قائد الإدارة المالية - لواء الوسطى) - الشهيد القائد/ زكي اشتيوي المصري (قائد سلاح الإشارة - لواء الوسطى) - الشهيد القائد/ لقمان عبد السلام عنبر (قائد وحدة المدفعية - لواء غزة) - الشهيد القائد/ أيمن سليمان أبو طير (قائد في وحدة العمليات المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ محمد نعيم منصور (قائد في وحدة المعلومات المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ سامي موسى داود (قائد في وحدة المعلومات المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ سامر شحدة النويري (قائد في وحدة الإعلام الحربي المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ سائد غازي البابلي (قائد في وحدة المعلومات المركزية) - الشهيد القائد/ حسن محمود صلاح (قائد في ملف البنية - لواء الشمال) - الشهيد القائد/ حسن يسري الحطاب (قائد في وحدة التعبئة المركزية)

Media from Al-Quds Brigades (1)

Media from Sources (13)