Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0150

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

شارع النخيل, Al Nakhil Street, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.424365, 34.342887 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 12th 2023, at least 11 civilians were reportedly killed, with 15 others injured, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Al-Zari’i family home on Al-Nakhil Street in Deir Al-Balah, located in the central Gaza Strip.

All 11 of the victims have been identified, including seven members across multiple generations of the Al-Zari’i family. Hajjaj Al-Zari’i (84 years old) was killed alongside his four sons Walid Al-Zari’i (50 years old), Ihsan Al-Zari’i, Osama Al-Zari’i (47 years old) and Saeed Al-Zari’i (43 years old), were killed in the airstrike. Ihsan’s son Hajjaj Al-Zari’i was also killed. In addition, Osama Al-Zari’i’s son Muhammad Al-Zari’i (7 years old), has also been identified in the aftermath of the strike. Abd Alrahim K Alzraiee provided the list of his family members killed, referring to Ihsan’s son Hajjaj Al-Zari’i as a child, and describing him as “my nephew, the hero”.

Muhammad Hamdan Al-Buhaisi (Abu Mahmoud) was also killed in the strike alongside his son, Hamdan Muhammad Al-Buhaisi (33 years old), and Hamdan’s two-year-old daughter, Nour Hamdan Al-Buhaisi. Several family relatives have paid tribute to Muhammad and his children on Facebook, with Abd Alrahim K Alzraiee referring to his friend Hamdan who was killed with his “daughters”. Hidaya Albuhisi posted a memorial for their “dear cousin, the wise and generous, and the great historian Abu Mahmoud” Muhammad Hamdan Al-Buhaisi. Mohammed AL Bohisi named aunt Itidal Othman Al-Buhaisi, Mahmoud Hamdan Al-Buhaisi, his sons and his nephews as among the injured.

In a series of Facebook posts from friends and family, Izz El-Din Younis Ahmed Najib Madi (30 years old) was also killed in the strike. Alaa Abu Jame posted about their sister’s husband Izz El-Din’s death, describing it as “I swear I don’t believe it”. Mahmud Hassan wrote in their memorial for their uncle Izz El-Din “The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and we are saddened by your departure”.

According to Wafa News, the home that was bombed belonged to Walid Al-Zari’i and was located on Al-Nakhil Street, while Maali Mohammad Abu Samra referred to the home as belonging to Saeed Al-Zari’i.

Most sources on the incident refer to a complex rescue operation to recover the civilians, with others injured from the incident. A Facebook Post from Mahmoud Mohammad Abu Saleh identified 15 injured civilians.

Where possible, Airwars has found named civilians among the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of names published on October 26th.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Hajjaj Al-Zari'i حجاج الزريعي
84 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 907645634
Walid Al-Zari'i وليد الزريعي
50 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 935341065
Osama Al-Zari'i اسامة الزريعي
47 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901353268
Saeed Al-Zari'i سعيد الزريعي
43 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 905308649
Ihsan Al-Zari'i إحسان الزريعي
male killed
Muhammad Al-Zari'i محمد الزريعي
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 436810501
Hajjaj Al-Zari'i حجاج الزريعي
Child male killed

Family members (5)

Muhammad Hamdan Al-Buhaisi محمد حمدان البحيصي
Adult male killed
Hamdan Muhammad Al-Buhaisi حمدان محمد البحيصي
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802804732
Nour Hamdan Al-Buhaisi نور حمدان البحيصي
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445791007
Itidal Othman Al-Buhaisi أعتدال عثمان البحيصي
Adult female killed
Mahmoud Hamdan Al-Buhaisi محمود حمدان البحيصي
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Izz El-Din Younis Ahmed Najib Madi عز الدين يونس احمد نجيب ماضي
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804559524

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Nakhil Street (شارع النخيل) in Deir al Balah (البلح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.424365, 34.342887

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  • Imagery:
    @Hamzaalnamla1

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (3–4 children8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (53) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (34) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abo Yamen Madi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Mahmoud Mohammad Abu Saleh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmoud Mohammad Abu Saleh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohamed El Burai
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohamed El Burai
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Tarabin Tribe Youth Gathering
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Abdel Fattah Badawi Aasef
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Abdel Malek Al-Bahisi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdel Malek Al-Bahisi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @adham922
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mhmed Al-Ejla
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salma Awad
  • 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.

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
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 12
  • (3–4 children8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (53) [ collapse]