Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0134b

Incident date

October 11, 2023

Location

الحكر, دير البلح, Al Hakar area, Deir Al Balah, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.407628, 34.346061 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the morning of Wednesday, October 11th 2023, at least 14 civilian members of the Al-Kurd family, including five women and six children, were killed and at least 16 family members were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Al-Kurd family house located in the Al Hakar area in the city of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip.

The reports came as the intense bombing was happening in the city of Deir al-Balah. Wafa News and Nabd News reported about three killed civilians and a number of injuries. Jaber Post reported that at 10.13 am the search finished and recovered 13 bodies from the rubble. The post corroborated that the airstrike destroyed the Al-Kurd family home, killing the family members inside or trapping them under the ruins leading to life-altering injuries.

Social media testimonies by family relatives and friends helped to identify the names of 14 family members of the Al-Kurd family who were killed. In particular, Mustafa Al-Kurd wrote the list of some deceased Al-Kurd family members and shared their images, including images of very small children.

40-year-old Tayseer Saeed Al-Kurd (Abu Muhammad) was killed while his younger brother Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd was injured. Fawzi’s brother Ahmad Al-Kurd wrote about his injury and that he was treated at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Yasser Alkurd wrote, “Please pray for my brothers Tayseer and Fawzi, my nephew Muhammad, my cousins, their daughters, and their children for recovery and safety.”

Tayseer’s sons, two-year-old Ahmed Tayseer Al-Kurd and Abdul Rahman Tayseer Al-Kurd were killed. The wife of Fawzi, 31-year-old Bushra Rafaat Ahmed Al-Kurd and their one-year-old daughter Julia Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd were also killed.

Yasser Al-Kurd’s son, 13-year-old Abdul Rahman Yasser Saeed Al-Kurd was also among the victims killed in the deadly attack. Yasser wrote a Facebook tribute to his son, sharing numerous pictures together with him.

37-year-old Mahmoud Atef Abdel Qadir Al-Kurd (Abu Yazar) was killed along with his 38-year-old brother Muhammad Atef Abdel Qadir Al-Kurd, his 56-year-old mother Haja Intizar Aziz (Al-Kurd) (Umm Muhammad) and his nephew, son of Muhammad, 11-year-old Yusuf Muhammad Atef Al-Kurd. Zaher Hamad Qashlan wrote about their death and added that their house was attacked without warning. Ahmad Alkurd wrote that the late Yusuf was beautiful and kind, and everybody who saw him loved him.

Muhammad Atef Abdel Qadir Al-Kurd was the Director of the Telecommunications Exhibition in Deir Al-Balah. Zaher Hamad Qashlan wrote his tribute to the late Muhammad, sharing an image of the middle-aged man in a black sports suit standing on the seashore with beads in his hands. His brother Mahmoud was the Director of the Telecommunications Exhibition in Jabalia and Nusairat. Deir Al Balah’s Facebook account added a picture of the dead Mahmoud Al-Kurd while his friend Mohammed Yasser Alnabaheen wrote “The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and I am saddened by your departure, Mahmoud…May God bless you and make you dwell in His spacious gardens.”

The brothers’ mother, Umm Muhammad, was mourned by her nephew Abdullah Aziz in a post on Facebook. He posted a picture of his aunt smiling, wearing a beige hijab and traditional clothing.

The death of 22-year-old woman Manar (Minar) Atef Abdul Qadir Al-Kurd was mourned by her friend Lina Tawash who wrote: “Manar Al-Kurd, our childhood friend, our neighbor, and my beloved, has passed away to God’s mercy…. I used to come to you and you used to pick all the flowers for me and tell me how similar you were? …. the meeting place is Paradise, my sister 💔😭😭😭😭😭🇵🇸

The airstrike took the lives of two young children, apparently brothers – two-year-old Yazid Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd and an infant, just one-week-old Zaid Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd, while their father, Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd, was reportedly injured.

63-year-old woman Fatima Ahmed Muhammad al-Kurd (Al-Mabhouh) Umm Al-Abd and 26-year-old Rahima Al-Kurd (Shaheen) were also killed in the attack, but further details about them were not provided.

Facebook user Abu Alazayaeh provided the names of the 16 injured family members: Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd, Amal Rifaat Al-Kurd, Alaa Mustafa Al-Kurd, Hala Muhammad Al-Kurd, Zain Mahmoud Al-Kurd, Maryam Yasser Al-Kurd, Juri Fawzi Al-Kurd, Karim Yasser Al-Kurd, Saeed Fawzi Al-Kurd, Karam Muhammad Al-Kurd, Mustafa Fawzi Al-Kurd, Muhammad Tayseer Al-Kurd, Ahmed Mustafa Al-Kurd, Mahmoud Al-Kurd, Alaa Refaat Al-Kurd, and Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd.

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

Where sources identified the belligerents, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (31)

Mahmoud Atef Abdel Qadir Al-Kurdi, محمود عاطف الكرد
37 years old killed Matched to MoH ID 801159682
Muhammad Atef Al-Kurd, محمد عاطف الكرد
38 years old male killed
Abdul Rahman Yasser Saeed Al-Kurd, عبدالرحمن ياسر الكرد
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429659790
Zaid Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd زياد احمد عاطف الكرد
0.1 years old male killed
Yazid Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd يزيد احمد عاطف الكرد
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 442829743
Manar (Minar) Atef Abdul Qadir Al-Kurd منار عاطف الكرد
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407686872
Intizar Aziz (Al-Kurd) انتظار عزيز الكرد
56 years old female killed
Fatima Ahmed Muhammad al-Kurd (Al-Mabhouh) Umm Al-Abd فاطمة المبحوح الكرد
63 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901985846
Julia Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd جوليا فوزي الكرد
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445179526
Bushra Rafaat Ahmed Al-Kurd بشرى رفعت الكرد
31 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803077858
Rahima Al-Kurd (Shaheen) رحيمة الكرد
26 years old female killed
Ahmed Tayseer Al-Kurd أحمد تيسير الكرد
2 years old male killed
Yusuf Muhammad Atef Al-Kurd يوسف محمد عاطف الكرد
11 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 433379096
Abdul Rahman Tayseer Al-Kurd, عبد الرحمن تيسير الكرد,
Child male killed
Tayseer Saeed Al-Kurd Abu Muhammad تيسير سعيد الكرد ابو مح
Adult male killed
Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd فوزي سعيد الكرد
Adult male injured
Mustafa Fawzi Al-Kurd, مصطفى فوزي الكرد
male injured
Ahmed Atef Al-Kurd احمد عاطف الكرد
Adult male injured
Amal Rifaat Al-Kurd امل رفعت الكرد
Age unknown injured
Alaa Mustafa Al-Kurd الاء مصطفى الكرد
Age unknown injured
Hala Muhammad Al-Kurd هلا محمد الكرد
Age unknown injured
Zain Mahmoud Al-Kurd زين محمود الكرد
Age unknown injured
Maryam Yasser Al-Kurd مريم ياسر الكرد
Age unknown female injured
Juri Fawzi Al-Kurd جوري فوزي الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Karim Yasser Al-Kurd كريم ياسر الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Saeed Fawzi Al-Kurd سعيد فوزي الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Karam Muhammad Al-Kurd كرم محمد الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Muhammad Tayseer Al-Kurd محمد تيسير الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Ahmed Mustafa Al-Kurd , احمد مصطفى الكرد
Age unknown male injured
Ghina Mahmoud Al-Kurd غنى محمود الكرد
Age unknown female injured
Alaa Refaat Al-Kurd الاء رفعت
Age unknown injured

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Al Hakar area (الحكر) in the town of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analysing visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.407628, 34.346061.

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  • Imagery:
    Lina Tawash facebook

  • Imagery:
    Beit Taima facebook

  • Imagery:
    Mohammed Aziz facebook

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • (6 children5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (52) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Lina Tawash facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Beit Taima facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Beit Taima facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Beit Taima facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Zaher hamad Qashlan facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Alkurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Deir Albalah facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Deir Albalah facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Alkurd Ahmad facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alkurd Ahmad facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yasser Al-Kurd facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alkurd Fawzi facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alkurd Fawzi facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

  • 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
    14
  • (6 children5 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]