Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0135

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

شارع العودة, Al Awda Street, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.526394, 34.489921 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon of October 12th 2023, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit several houses in Jabalia in northern Gaza, killing between 55 and 63 civilians, including up to 24 children, and injuring at least six others, including a child. One Islamic Jihad leader was also reportedly killed, and many of the other individuals killed in the strike were his family members.

Though initial estimates were lower, local sources consistently reported and identified by name at least 44 individuals killed. At least another 12 individuals were killed but remained unidentified by local sources, who noted that they had been displaced from elsewhere in Gaza.

Abd al-Rahman Ahmad Abd al-Rahman Shehab (65) was identified by the Islamic Jihad Movement, as quoted by @ShehabAgency, as an Islamic Jihad leader. Other local sources identified him as a writer, director of the Atlas Center for Studies, and a former Israeli prisoner. He was reportedly released as part of the first wave of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, also known as Wafa al-Ahrar, on October 18th 2011 after being in prison since September 1989. He is one of the ‘key Hamas operatives’ listed on the IDF website, listed as a Senior Operative in the Islamic Jihad.

He was reportedly killed alongside 36 civilians who shared his family name, and were likely all related. Airwars has identified the individuals as follows:

Abd al-Rahman Ahmad Abd al-Rahman Shehab’s wife, Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab (61), their four children and at least 14 grandchildren.

This includes their son Ahmed Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab (42), killed alongside his three children: his daughter Souad Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab (6), his son Abd al-Rahman Ahmad Abd al-Rahman Shehab (13), and his other daughter Lina Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab (10).

Their other son Mohamed Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Shehab (37) was also killed, together with his three children: daughter Israa Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab (12), his son Osama Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab (9), his other daughter Judy Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab (6).

Their daughter Amna Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab (41 years old), was reported killed alongside her husband, Saleh Omar Mustafa Shehab (41), and their five children: their son Anas Saleh Omar Shehab (17), their daughter Rawand Saleh Omar Shehab (18), their other daughter Jinan Saleh Omar Shihab (12), their other daughter Afnan Saleh Omar Shehab (6), their other daughter Aisha Saleh Omar Shehab (4).

Their other daughter Asia Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab (43) was also reported killed alongside her husband, Mustafa Omar Mustafa Shehab (46), and their three children: their son Omar Mustafa Omar Shehab (25), their other son Ahmed Mustafa Omar Shehab (21), their other son Mohamed Mustafa Omar Shehab (17).

Several other members of the Shehab family was also reported killed, including a grandmother alongside her children and grandchildren: Halima Muhammad Ibrahim Shehab (79), her daughter Asma Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab (45), her son Abd al-Rahman Rabie Abd al-Rahman Shehab (54). Abd al-Rahman Rabie Abd al-Rahman Shehab’s wife Mona Nahed Muhammad Shehab (39), their son Bilal Abdul Rahman Rabie Shehab (6), their daughter Lotus Abdul Rahman Rabie Shehab (10), their other daughter Rita Abdel Rahman Rabie Shehab (7).

Also mentioned killed in the strike was Abdullah Omar Mustafa Shehab (38) alongside his wife Islam Farid Mustafa Shehab (38), their daughter Walaa Abdullah Omar Shehab (13), their son Alaa Abdullah Omar Shehab (12), their other son Omar Abdullah Omar Shehab (9), their other son Abdulkarim Abdullah Omar Shehab (2).

Amna Omar Mustafa Abu Hamidan (41), was also reported killed alongside her daughter Shaima Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan (16).

Additional victims given without indication as their relation to the other Shehab family members were: Enas Khattab Abdul Karim Shehab (26), Aisha Omar Mustafa Shehab (3), Mohamed Omar Mustafa Shehab (40 days old), Khawla Omar Mustafa Shehab (33), Hala Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan (17), Maryam Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan (13), Jana Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan (7), Abdul Rahman Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan (20).

In addition to the members of the Shehab and Abu Hamidan family killed and injured, multiple local sources reported that a displaced family from Beit Hanoun was sheltering on the ground floor of the same house and was also killed. Estimates of the number of people from this family that were killed range from 12, provided by Moussa Shehab, to 20, provided by Mohammed Alqazzaz. Airwars does not have the names or ages of these victims.

@ShehabAgency reported that journalist Ahmed Shehab was among those killed (likely included as one of the names mentioned above). He worked for Voice of Prisoners Radio (Sowt al-Asra Radio) according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. @Kuffiyateam posted a video of Ahmed documenting the last few moments of his life before the strike that killed him and his family (his wife and three children). While strikes can be heard in the background, Ahmed is heard saying facing the camera: “this might be my last video, this is my message for the world. We’ve been cut off from food, and electricity and water and everything, and we can’t leave our house because they are killing us from the inside and from the outside (…)”

Airwars was also able to identify the names of six individuals injured in the strike: Omar Mustafa Abdullah Shehab (70), Fatima Abdullah Hussein Shehab (37), Abdul Rahman Omar Mustafa Shehab (29), Baraa Abdul Rahman Omar Shehab (29), Islam Omar Mustafa Shehab (36), Qasim Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab (2).

Shaaban Al Jarjeer reported that the Shehab family home was located on Al-Nuzha Street, consisted of four floors, and was destroyed.

Focus Media published the image of an infant whose family was killed, asking if anyone recognized him. The child remained at Al-Shifa hospital.

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 a belligerent, they attributed the strike to Israeli forces. Multiple sources also alleged that the strike had occurred without a warning.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (50)

Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab سعاد ربيع عبدالرحمن شهاب
61 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 951205467
Ahmed Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab محمد عبدالرحمن أحمد شهاب
42 years old male Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab's son killed Matched to MoH ID 994024404
Mohamed Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Shehab محمد عبدالرحمن أحمد شهاب
37 years old male Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab's son killed Matched to MoH ID 801471236
Amna Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab آمنة عبد الرحمن أحمد شهاب
41 years old female Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab's daughter killed
Asia Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab آسيا عبد الرحمن أحمد شهاب
43 years old female Souad Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab's daughter killed Matched to MoH ID 903290781
Souad Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab سعاد أحمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
6 years old female Ahmed Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab’s child killed
Abd al-Rahman Ahmad Abd al-Rahman Shehab عبدالرحمن أحمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
13 years old female Ahmed Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab’s child killed Matched to MoH ID 429693666
Lina Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab لينا أحمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
10 years old female Ahmed Abdel Rahman Ahmed Shehab’s child killed
Israa Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab اسراء محمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 430042648
Osama Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab أسامة محمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
male killed
Judy Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Shehab جودي محمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 439171570
Saleh Omar Mustafa Shehab صالح عمر مصطفى شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 909088437
Anas Saleh Omar Shehab أنس صالح عمر شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 424474229
Rawand Saleh Omar Shehab رواند صالح عمر شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 421457987
Jinan Saleh Omar Shihab جنان صالح عمر شهاب
female killed
Afnan Saleh Omar Shehab أفنان صالح عمر شهاب
female killed
Aisha Saleh Omar Shehab عائشة صالح عمر شهاب
female killed
Mustafa Omar Mustafa Shehab مصطفى عمر مصطفى شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 900780271
Omar Mustafa Omar Shehab عمر مصطفى عمر شهاب
male killed
Ahmed Mustafa Omar Shehab أحمد مصطفى عمر شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 408103463
Mohamed Mustafa Omar Shehab محمد مصطفى عمر شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 422521765
Halima Muhammad Ibrahim Shehab حليمة محمد ابراهيم شهاب
female killed
Asma Rabie Abdel Rahman Shehab أسماء ربيع عبدالرحمن شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 900483959
Abd al-Rahman Rabie Abd al-Rahman Shehab عبد الرحمن ربيع عبدالرحمن شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 951205491
Mona Nahed Muhammad Shehab منى ناهض محمد شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 800347254
Bilal Abdul Rahman Rabie Shehab بلال عبدالرحمن ربيع شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 437315732
Lotus Abdul Rahman Rabie Shehab لوتس عبدالرحمن ربيع شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 434142345
Rita Abdel Rahman Rabie Shehab ريتا عبدالرحمن ربيع شهاب
killed Matched to MoH ID 434322129
Abdullah Omar Mustafa Shehab عبدالله عمر مصطفى شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 800506909
Islam Farid Mustafa Shehab إسلام فريد مصطفى شهاب
female killed
Walaa Abdullah Omar Shehab ولاء عبدالله عمر شهاب
female killed
Alaa Abdullah Omar Shehab الاء عبدالله عمر شهاب
male killed
Omar Abdullah Omar Shehab عمر عبدالله عمر شهاب
male killed
Abdulkarim Abdullah Omar Shehab عبدالكريم عبدالله عمر شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 445696545
Amna Omar Mustafa Abu Hamidan آمنه عمر مصطفى ابوحميدان
female killed
Shaima Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan شيماء أشرف مصطفى أبوحميدان
female killed Matched to MoH ID 426300208
Enas Khattab Abdul Karim Shehab ايناس خطاب عبدالكريم شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 402980221
Aisha Omar Mustafa Shehab عائشه عمر مصطفى شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 443261458
Mohamed Omar Mustafa Shehab محمد عمر مصطفى شهاب
male killed Matched to MoH ID 445914971
Khawla Omar Mustafa Shehab خوله عمر مصطفى شهاب
female killed Matched to MoH ID 802566984
Hala Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan هالة أشرف مصطفى أبوحميدان
male killed
Maryam Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan مريم أشرف مصطفى أبوحميدان
female killed
Jana Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan جنى أشرف مصطفى أبوحميدان
female killed
Abdul Rahman Ashraf Mustafa Abu Hamidan عبدالرحمن أشرف مصطفى أبوحميدان
male killed
Omar Mustafa Abdullah Shehab عمر مصطفى عبدالله شهاب
70 years old male injured
Fatima Abdullah Hussein Shehab فاطمة عبدالله حسين شهاب
37 years old female injured
Abdul Rahman Omar Mustafa Shehab عبدالرحمن عمر مصطفى شهاب
29 years old male injured
Baraa Abdul Rahman Omar Shehab براء عمر مصطفى شهاب
29 years old female injured
Islam Omar Mustafa Shehab اسلام عمر مصطفى شهاب
36 years old male injured
Qasim Ahmed Abdel Rahman Shehab قاسم أحمد عبدالرحمن شهاب
2 years old male

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jabalia (جباليا). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.526394, 34.489921.

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  • Imagery:
    Zakaria Shehab

  • Imagery:
    Zakaria Shehab

  • Imagery:
    Zakaria Shehab

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    55 – 63
  • (24 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 belligerents
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (66) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (51) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al Kilani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Palestine Today News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Made in Gaza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Jazeera - Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Refai Muntasir
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Journalist Support Committee - JSC
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    55 – 63
  • (24 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 belligerents
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (66) [ collapse]