Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0155

Incident date

October 12, 2023

Location

مخيم النصيرات 2, Al Nuseirat Camp 2, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.441022, 34.382483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 12th 2023, at approximately 3:30 PM, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the Kafina family house in Camp 2 of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing a child named Hussain Muhammed Kafina (14), and a child named Anas Abu Zarqa (13). Additionally, Safa News, Alalam News, and Shehab Agency all reported that the strike led to civilian injuries, without providing any additional information.

The strike which reportedly occured without a prior warning hit the centre of the Nuseirat camp, an UNRWA camp that accommodates thousands of Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza strip. Abu Fayez posted a video on Facebook showing the immediate aftermath of the strike, a severely damaged four-storey residential building and several wounded people being carried away.

Emad Abu Shawiesh also posted a video of the damage inflicted from the strike to his account mentioning that this is the second time the Kafina family home has been bombed. Made In Gaza reported that the Kafina family home was a four-story residential building.

Family members and friends mourned the death of the victims in their testimonies on social networks. Muhamed Abunoor wrote on Facebook: “My cousin’s son, the martyr, God willing, Hussein Muhammad Kafina”, posting a picture of a smiling child in a suit. Anas Abu Zarqa’s uncle Abdulrahman Jaber wrote that his nephew was killed in a strike on a neighbouring house, the Kafina family house. Another neighbor @mahmoud stated that they also survived the bombing of their neighbors’ house. Altabax Saidawi posted on Facebook a picture of the young smiling Anas Abu Zarqa holding a heart in his hands.

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

Airwars was able to find both names of the children among the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of names published on October 26th.

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 at approximately 3:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Anas Abu Zarqa انس ابو زرقة
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429631518
Husain Muhammed Kafina حسين محمد كفينة
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426429171

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: Altabalsaidawi

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Al Nuseirat Camp 2 (مخيم النصيرات 2) northeast of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.441022, 34.382483.

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  • Imagery:
    Abo Fayez Jml

  • Imagery:
    Abo Fayez Jml

  • Imagery:
    Abo Fayez Jml

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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]