Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0187E

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Location

عائلة الاسطل, Astal family, opposite Production Bank, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Friday, 13 October 2023, five children from the Al-Astal family were killed and at least two others were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Astal family home opposite the Production Bank in Central Khan Yunis.

Sawaed Gaza reported that there was an “aerial bombardment near the homes of the Astal and Shaat families, opposite the Production Bank in Khan Yunis”, with Safa News reporting “Martyrs, missing persons, and injuries in the bombing”, and Al Jazeera adding “the martyrdom of a Palestinian baby and 4 women.”

Relatives of the family posted to social media that the home was bombed without warning, killing “a number of citizens and a number of injuries.” Nidal Mustafa al-Astal reported that four were killed, along with a “number of wounded.” Nabd al-Qarara reported on the death of two children, Joan Yahya Youssef al-Astal (5), and her younger sister Mian Yahya al-Astal (2 months), adding that their mother and brother were injured. The Astal family posted the names of the other victims – a 16 year old girl named Abeer Mahmoud Ahmed Ziyadi al-Astal, and 1 year old Janan Hamed Nasser al-Astal, adding that the funeral prayer would take place at 4:30 at the Austria Stadium. Sources on social media mourned the deaths, with Sliman al-Astal mentioning the death of a sibling of Janan named Joud Hamed Nasser Zare’ Al-Astal (4) and saying “Birds of paradise/My brother’s daughters, may God have mercy on you and go to heaven, God willing/Janan and Joud”, sharing a picture of the two children, and others sharing heartbreaking images of the infant Mian al-Astal who was killed.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. A post from Shawqi Maghnam added that the house was demolished “without warning”.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Abeer Mahmoud Ahmed 'Ziyadi Al-Astal عبير محمود احمد 'زيادي الاسطل
16 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 422435560
Janan Hamid Nasser Al-Asatal جنان حامد ناصر الاسطل
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444334304
Joud Hamed Nasser Zare' Al-Astal جود حامد ناصر زارع الأسطل
4 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 441091428
Joan Yahya Youssef Al-Astal جوان يحيى يوسف الأسطل
5 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 440735769
Mian Yahya Yusuf Al-Astal ميان يحيى يوسف الأسطل
0.2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444351654
Joan and Mian's mother
Adult female injured
Joan and Mian's brother
male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Astal family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nidal Mustafa Al-Astal facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nidal Mustafa Al-Astal facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Manal Dana facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Manal Dana facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nabd Alqarara facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sabri Ghazal twitter
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salah Z Al-Astal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salah Z Al-Astal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sliman ALstal
  • 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
    5
  • (5 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]