Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0200b

Incident date

October 14, 2023

Location

الزيتون, Zeitoun, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.485479, 34.444885 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Saturday, October 14th 2023, at least 27 members of the Malika family including 11 women, two of whom were pregnant, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a house belonging to the Malika family in the Al Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza.

Malek Malika, a relative of the family, mourned the death of his “uncles and aunts, their sons, daughters and grandchildren”, and included their names – Muhammad Assad Malika (Abu Rashid), his wife Ahlam al-Sharbasi, their son Abdul Rahman Muhammad Malika, their daughters Maryam Muhammad Malika, Khadija Muhammad Malika, Aisha Muhammad Malika, Fatima Muhammad Malika, their pregnant daughter-in-law Batoul Murtaja, Ahmed Assad Malika, his wife Halima Rizq al-Hattab (Umm Osama), their sons Mahmoud Ahmed Malika, Omar Ahmed Malika, Alaa Ahmed Malika, Bilal Ahmed Malika, their daughters Nour Ahmed Malika, Mona Ahmed Malika, their pregnant daughter-in-law Malak al-Zamili, Hamdan Asaad Malika, his wife Elham Rizq al-Hattab, their sons Adam Hamdan Malika, Muhammad Hamdan Malika, their daughter Shaima Hamdan Malika, Amna Asaad Malika, her daughter Hoda Yahya Siyam, her son Muhammad Yahya Siam, Nafya Asaad Malika, and her daughter Marwa Amjad Abu al-Naga. These names were corroborated by Rabeha Nabeel and Aya Karim on social media.

Palestinian News and Shadi Press reported on the bombing, stating that the “Malika family was targeted in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza”. Sources on social media Ahmad Mazen and al Sharawmo attributed the bombing to Israeli forces. Mahmoud Harara reported that the burial ceremony for 15 of the victims from the Malika family took place at the Shujaiya cemetery, and included a video of the ceremony. Heba Shaban mourned the death of 25 members of the Malika family, while Ayman Malika, a relative of the family, said “More than twenty martyrs from the Malika cousin family died”, adding that the bombing came without warning. Sources did not specify any injuries.

Elham Rizq al-Hattab was a lawyer, according to a source on social media who offered their condolences, and Halima Rizq al-Hattab was killed with her entire family save for two of her sons. Muhammad Malika was mourned by his colleague at the Palestine Secondary School for Boys named Mahmoud Maher Abu Sharkh, saying he was a “A sweetheart, a beloved colleague with a beautiful smile.” Lama om Yazam and Ahmed Khodeh revealed that among the victims killed was a woman who was nine months pregnant, with the latter sharing a heartbreaking video of the baby that was killed – the identity of the mother is unclear as two of the victims killed, Batoul Murtaja and Malak al-Zamili, were reportedly pregnant. Ahmed Khodeh reported that the paramedic Mahmoud al-Sarhi who arrived at the site of the bombing found out that his fiancee, who had sent him a text the night of the bombing, was among those killed. Mahmoud mourned his fiancee on social media, saying “She has moved to the mercy of God Almighty (Princess) ‘Noor Ahmed Assad Malika’, my fiancée and my soul” – they were supposed to be married the following week.

Airwars was able to find all but three of the named victims among the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (27)

Muhammad Asaad Malaka محمد اسعد ملكة
55 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 954893749
Ahlam Al-Sharbasi احلام الشرباصي
50 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 950608018
Abdul Rahman Muhammad Malaka عبد الرحمن محمد ملكة
11 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 433163672
Maryam Muhammad Malika مريم محمد ملكة
24 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 404604415
Khadija Muhammad Malika خديجة محمد ملكة
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407055045
Aisha Muhammad Malika عائشة محمد ملكة
14 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 425892353
Fatima Muhammad Malika فاطمة محمد ملكة
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424394914
Batoul Murtaja بتول مرتجى
19 years old female pregnant killed Matched to MoH ID 409914975
Ahmed Asaad Malika احمد اسعد ملكة
50 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 931695688
Halima Rizq Al-Hattab حليمة رزق الحطاب
50 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 954747283
Mahmoud Ahmed Malika محمود احمد ملكة
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804672889
Omar Ahmed Malika عمر احمد ملكة
28 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400564993
Alaa Ahmed Malika علاء احمد ملكة
24 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 405259896
Bilal Ahmed Malika بلال احمد ملكة
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421208208
Nour Ahmed Malika نور احمد ملكة
27 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 402263669
Mona Ahmed Malika منى احمد ملكة
12 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 432265197
Malak Al-Zamili ملاك الزميلي
24 years old female pregnant killed Matched to MoH ID 405434580
Hamdan Asaad Malika حمدان اسعد ملكة
46 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901652321
Elham Rizq Al-Hattab الهام رزق الحطاب
45 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 900656414
Adam Hamdan Malika ادم حمدان ملكة
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421849217
Muhammad Hamdan Malaka محمد حمدان ملكة
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 435072376
Shaima Hamdan شيماء حمدان ملكة
19 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 421159443
Amna Asaad Malika امنة اسعد ملكة
killed
Hoda Yahya Siyam هدى يحيى صيام
female killed
Muhammad Yahya Siam محمد يحيى صيام
31 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803548510
Nayfa Asaad Malika نايفة اسعد ملكة
44 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 903490837
Marwa Abu Al-Naga مروى ابو النجا
female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Zeitoun (الزيتون) neighbourhood south of Gaza city (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.485479, 34.444885. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    27
  • (7–8 children11–12 women7 men)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: M.k.si
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: M.k.si
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A.Mahmoud Maher Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamad s bakroun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed khodeh journalist
  • 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
    27
  • (7–8 children11–12 women7 men)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]