Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0201

Incident date

October 15, 2023

Location

جمعية الشابات المسلمات, Young Muslim Women’s Association, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.280780, 34.257354 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 15 October 2023, at least six civilians were reportedly killed and dozens of others, including a woman, were injured by an alleged Israeli airstrike at the headquarters of the Young Muslim Women’s Association located in the centre of Rafah. Sources reported that several missiles were fired.

Four members of the al-Tarturi family, a father and his three sons, were among those killed. Arafat Ismail al-Tarturi (55) and his three sons, Yasser Arafat al-Tarturi (25), Abdullah Arafat al-Tarturi (21) and Muhammad Arafat al-Tarturi (20), have been listed among the dead. Ahmed Saber Ashour, a young man of 18, was also killed in the strike, and his mother was reportedly injured, according to a Facebook post by user Khaleel Ibrahim. Reports on the incident also referred to the death of Abdel-Ati Saeed Abdel-Ati Obaid (40).

Social media posts from family and friends of the al-Tarturi family paid tribute to the family members killed. A colleague of Afarat named Mahmoud Salah Al-Gharban also posted a condolence message to “our humble, gallant father, Arafat Al-Tarturi” and Abdallah Yousef referred to Arafat as “Professor, teacher, friend, father and brother”. Facebook user Canada Camp posted images which show relatives devastated at the scene of the bodies.

A post by Facebook user Abood Abu Howidy commemorated Ahmed Ashour, referring to him as “engineer” and mentioned that his mother was in intensive care.

@ShehabAgency, which reported on the missile strike on the Young Muslim Women’s Association, indicated that these incidents led to “injuries” – without further details on the exact number of civilians wounded, while SHFA News identified four deaths and “dozens of injuries” recovered from the bombing. Abo Yazan Abd Alla provided the highest death toll of seven people killed. An image posted by Firas Abu Sharkh shows two young girls being treated for their injuries and a man being rescued on a stretcher.

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

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 (4)

Arafat Ismail al-Tarturi عرفات اسماعيل الترتوري
55 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 955622303
Yasser arafat Al-Tarturi ياسر عرفات الترتوري
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 404163065
Abdullah Arafat al-Tarturi عبدالله عرفات الترتوري
21 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408008845
Muhammad Arafat al-Tarturi محمد عرفات الترتوري
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 409822145

Family members (2)

Ahmed Saber Ashour احمد صابر عاشور
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421241399
Mother of Ahmed Saber Ashour
female injured

The victims were named as:

Abdel-Ati Saeed Abdel-Ati Obaid عبدالعاطي سعيد عبدالعاطي عبيد
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 926735010

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Young Muslim Women’s Association (جمعية الشابات المسلمات) in Rafah (رفح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.280780, 34.257354.

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  • Imagery:
    @ShehabAgency

  • Imagery:
    Mahmoud Al-Omri

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (42) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mahmoud Salah Al-Gharban
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Shareef Ahmad Abu Alkhayr
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Mahmoud Al-Omri
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmoud Al-Omri
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Firas Abu Sharkh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hatem Abu Taha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hatem Abu Taha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hatem Abu Taha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: @Zekaa15
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abood Abu Howidy
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Canada Camp
  • 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (41) [ collapse]