Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0098

Incident date

October 10, 2023

Location

الشجاعي، مدينة غزة, Al Shujaiya neighborhood, Gaza City, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.494122, 34.475567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During the afternoon of October 10th 2023, six civilians, most of whom were children, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Aslim family home, located in the Al Shujaiya neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. Alaa Ahmed Zaino (30) and her children, Yahya Muhannad Sami Aslim (12), Hala Muhannad Sami Aslim (10), Majda Muhannad Sami Aslim (5), and Anas Muhannad Sami Aslim (3) were killed, along with Fadl al-Sayyid Aslim (35).

On October 11th, Mezan News reported that “in Gaza, [Israeli] aircraft launched dozens of raids on residential neighborhoods that continued until this morning [which] coincided with intense bombardment by artillery and naval battleships. The bombardment destroyed many homes and residential buildings, on the heads of their residents, the families of Tatar, Aslim, Marouf, Abu Shamala, Ashour, and al-Nafar…[and] the raids resulted in the deaths of 57 citizens, including 20 children and 11 women, while the event is still unfolding with dozens under the rubble.” On October 10th, the Iktisad al-Balad Facebook page reported that “a number of witnesses were extracted from the house of the Aslim family that was targeted this afternoon in al-Suja’iya neighborhood, east Gaza.” The page also shared a photo from the site of the alleged attack, showing home appliances, mattresses, clothing and other personal belongings scattered across a crater which is surrounded by residential buildings. A group of people are gathered along the edge of the debris field.

Following the alleged Israeli airstrike, numerous loved ones paid their respects to the victims online. Mourning the death of Alaa Ahmed Zeino and her children, Facebook user Um Salmi wrote “I offer my sincere condolences on the martyrdom of my cousin Alaa Zeino (Yahya Aslim’s mother) and her children. May God bless your heart, my cousin’s wife, and my cousins’ sons and daughters…May God have mercy on you, Om Yahya, who is dear to our hearts, and may you and your children live in the highest gardens of paradise.” Mohannad Sami shared his grief as well and offered his condolences to the surviving husband/father of the victims, in a post dedicated to “the memorizer of the Book of God, Yahya Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, Preserver of the Book of God, Hala Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, the baby girl Magda Muhannad Sami Aslim💔, Child Anas Muhannad Sami Aslim, their mother, Umm Yahya Aslim💔 Alaa Ahmed Zaino💔… May God give you patience, my dear cousin Abu Yahya. Your wife and children preceded you to Paradise. May God give you patience and strengthen you through your affliction.” Naji Esleem shared smiling photos of the children and infants who were killed, writing “after a while, funeral prayer for Yahya, Hala, Majda, Anas and their mother.”

Sharing a smiling photo of his relative Fadl al-Sayyid Aslim, Nidal Eslim shared that “my cousin, engineer Fadl al-Sayyid Khader Aslim, has passed away.” Raed Eslim posted the same photo and lamented the death of “my cousin and brother-in-law, engineer: Fazal al-Sayyid Aslim martyr. May God have mercy on you and cover you in His vast mercy.” Mohammed Abed Nasser wrote “the martyrdom of Engineer Fadl al-Sayyid Khader Aslim, my mother’s cousin, I swear you are one of the kindest personalities we know. May God have mercy on you and accept you in the gardens of bliss.“ A number of friends mourned Fadl’s passing as well. Sharing a smiling photo of himself with Fadl, Ahmad Nasser Abdallah wrote “I swear it’s early, my friend.. 💔 My friend and ten of my years, engineer / Fadl Al-Sayyed Islam.. a martyr.. 💔😥.” Adham al-Dahshan posted a charming photo of Fadl and expressed that “to the mercy and satisfaction of God, my friend, lover, and companion since childhood, Engineer/Fadl Sayed Aslim, Jannat al-Khald, my hero. May God accept you and admit you into His spacious Paradise, coming forward without delay, my beloved friend.”

The day after the incident, Mohammed Abo Omer shared the news that “my dear, dear friend, Engineer Fadl Aslim, has passed away. May God have mercy on you and be good to you.”

Where sources identified the belligerent, the strike was attributed to Israeli forces.

All names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of victims released October 26, 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 incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Fadl al-Sayyid Khudur Islim فضل السيد خضر اسليم
35 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 801989518
Alaa Ahmad Nimr Islim الاء أحمد نمر اسليم
30 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 804401362
Yahya Muhannad Sami Aslim يحيى مهند سامي اسليم
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 432252666
Hala Muhand Sami Aslim حلا مهند سامي اسليم
10 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434361176
Majda Muhand Sami Aslim ماجدة مهند سامي اسليم
5 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 447777772
Anas Muhand Sami Aslim أنس مهند سامي اسليم
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 444482228

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Shujaiya (الشجاعي) in Gaza City (مدينة غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.494122, 34.475567. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mohamed.a.nassar.92
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Nasser Abdallah AbuShaban
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Adham Aldhshan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Abu Omer
  • 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
    6
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]