Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0187F

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Location

بجوار محطة بنزين عصفور, Vicinity of Asfour gas station, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.334289, 34.333110 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 13th 2023, at least three civilian members of the Baraka family were killed and others were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the home of the Abu al-Asla (Baraka) family near the Asfour station in Bani Suhaila, Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip.

Initial reporting from Safa news mentioned “Martyrs and injuries” in the bombing, without specifying any number. Sources on social media later revealed that at least three had been killed, and the names identified were Shawqi Hussein Baraka (Abu Muhammad), his brother Adly Hussein Baraka (Abu Mahmoud), and their nephew Muhammad Baraka (Abu Hassan) the son of their brother Hassan.

Radwan Baraka shared a tearful tribute on social media, and friends and relatives shared tributes and images of the victims, “My uncle Adly Baraka, you were martyred and your daughter Hadeel followed/Your pure, fragrant blood still clings to my hands/My uncle Shawqi Baraka, you were in our house a week before the war and you asked my father, “When do you want to perform Umrah, Abu Hamid?”/Muhammad Hassan Baraka, may God have mercy on you, cousin/May God have mercy on you, martyrs of my family”. It is unclear whether Hadeel, daughter of Adly, was killed in the bombing on the 13th. Mohammed Baraka added that Shawqi Baraka was supposed to travel to Saudi Arabia soon, before he was killed.

Airwars has matched the names of some of the civilians killed with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023, which explicitly mentions that names on the list are “victims of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip”. Therefore this incident has been graded as fair, as another source also identified Israel as being responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Shawqi Hussein Baraka “Abu Muhammad” شوقي حسين بركة ابو محمد
Adult male killed
Adly Hussein Baraka “Abu Mahmoud” حسين بركة ابو محمود
59 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 920078300
Muhammad Baraka “Abu Hassan” محمد بركة ابو حسين
44 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 903577757

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Asfour gas station (محطة بنزين عصفور) to the east of Bani Suheila (بني سهيلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.334289, 34.333110. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hind Albaraka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Radwan baraka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: Jawdat Abu Layan facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shadi baraka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shadi baraka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shadi baraka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mohammed baraka facebook

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
    3 – 4
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]