Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0187GA

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Location

مخيم البريج, Bureij camp, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.437934, 34.403857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four people, including a woman and a child, were killed and at least eight others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the al-Durra residence in the Burejj camp at dawn on October 13th, 2023.

11-year-old Aryam al-Durra was killed with her father, Iyad al-Durra. Iyad’s brother Nael al-Durra was also killed, along with his wife, Salwa Taha (al-Durra). Iyad’s wife and three sons, as yet unnamed, were uncovered from under the rubble and taken to the hospital with injuries, according to Eg News 24.

Iyad and Nael’s brother Jamal al-Dourra told Anadolu Agency, “Israel bombed my brothers’ homes, killed my two brothers, my brother’s wife, and his only daughter.” Iyad and Nael’s brother Jamal stated to Elwatan News that the family had received no warning, and that he, his wife and children had survived solely due to a “divine miracle,” while also telling journalist Basma Wahba, presenter of the “90 Minutes” program, broadcast on the “Al-Mehwar” channel: “My house is located next to the house of my martyr brother, and on the day of his martyrdom I saw a tsunami in my house, and I left the house with my wife and children and we were injured.” He was only able to retrieve his brothers bodies from under rubble three days after the strike.

Social media posts circulated of Jamal al-Dourra, brother to Nael and Iyad, praying for his family and paying tribute to his family members at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque in the city of Deir al-Balah. In a video clip, Jamal is asking his brothers, “Reserve a place for me next to you,” as he prayed to God to help him with their passing.

An image of Jamal al-Dourra and his late son Muhammad al-Dourra was reportedly an icon of an uprising in 2000, in which his young son was killed by Israeli fire. The image depicted Jamal and his son taking cover in a cement barrel while being fired upon. Sources have used both photos to report on the incident.

A friend of Nael named Hussein Samir Kamel posted on Facebook a message to Nael that “You have been communicating with me for years about taking measures to buy an apartment for you in Egypt, but God wanted a better one for you in heaven with the martyrs.” A post on Twitter/X described Nael as “He used to help anyone in need, even beyond his capacity, and his wife Salwa was also beloved by everyone.”

According to the Bureij Facebook age, the strike occurred in the square after the Martyrs’ Roundabout in Bureij Camp.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. Multiple local sources and witnesses refer to “explosive barrels” as being used in the attack.

Where possible, Airwars has matched names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Aryam Al-Durra أريام الدرة
11 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 432273001
Nael Al-Durra نائل الدرة
48 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900986316
Iyad Al-Durra اياد الدرة
46 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901466698
Salwa Taha (Al-Durra) سلوى طه
47 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901381632
Jamal Al-Durra جمال الدرة
Adult male injured
Iyad's wife اياد الزوجة
Adult female injured
Iyad's son اياد ابن
male injured
Iyad's son اياد ابن
male injured
Iyad's son اياد ابن
male injured
Jamal's wife جمال الزوجة
Adult female injured
Jamal's child جمال طفل
injured
Jamal's child جمال طفل
injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Bureij camp (مخيم البريج), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.437934, 34.403857. 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Oday Bani Safi facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Hussein Samir Kamel facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Bassam Shammaa facebook
  • 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]