ISPT0221 – October 15, 2023

Conflict

Israel and Gaza (from 2023)

Incident Code

ISPT0221

Incident Code

ISPT0221

Incident Date

15 October 2023

Location

Al Nuseirat Camp 5, Deir Al Balah, Palestinian territories

مخيم النصيرات 5

Geolocation

31.452843, 34.390054

Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Geolocation

31.452843, 34.390054

Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Sections

Assessment

Key Information

Victims

Geolocation Notes

Military Statements

Sources

Media from Sources

Referenced

Permalink

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: June 24, 2026

On Sunday, October 15th 2023, at least 21 civilians – 19 civilian members of the Al-Taweel family, including ten women and seven children, as well as a woman and child from the Eid family – were reportedly killed and an unknown number were wounded in an alleged Israeli airstrike on three houses belonging to the Al-Taweel family in Camp 5, Nuseirat, central Gaza strip. Five militants affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) – also members of the Al-Taweel family – were reportedly among those killed. Khalil al Ghafari stated that the residential block was bombed without warning and that there were “martyrs, children and women under the rubble.”

Posts shared on October 17, 2023 by accounts such as ‘Main Nuseirat’ reported that five bodies had been recovered from the rubble. These individuals, whose family relations are outlined below, were Umm Mazen al-Taweel, Haifa al-Taweel, the child Bilal Saleh, and two child brothers: Tamer and Nasser Bahjat al-Taweel. Those recovered from the rubble are included in this incident.

On the one-year anniversary of the incident, Ahmed Abdel Aziz al-Taweel posted to Facebook in memory of his family members who were killed. In addition to naming those who were killed, Ahmed wrote that another seven members of the Eid family were also reportedly killed, as were a number of people reportedly in the street at the time.

Remember his family, Ahmed said that they “were living safely and peacefully inside their home when Israeli warplanes surprised them at midday.” Ahmed went on to report that three homes were struck – that of the family’s patriarch – Abu Husni al-Taweel; Ahmed’s father Abdel Aziz al-Taweel; and Abdel Aziz’s brother Ibrahim (Abu Majed) al-Taweel.

On March 19, 2026, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published a non-exhaustive list of affiliated commanders killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Among those named in the list were 48-year-old Ibrahim Saeed Muhammad al-Taweel (Abu Majed) and 32-year-old Bahjat Abdul Nasser al-Taweel (Abu Tamer). Bahjat was a nephew of Ibrahim.

Additionally, one of the images shared by Ahmed showed a man in a militant uniform and carrying an RPG over his shoulder. Reviewing images, it appears that this individual may be Ibrahim Al-Taweel’s 25-year old son Majed Ibrahim Saeed al-Taweel. As such, the number of militants killed in this incident has been recorded as four. Should it become clear that the individual pictured is in fact someone else, Airwars will update the incident accordingly.

On June 20, 2026, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published another non-exhaustive list, this time of affiliated fighters. Among those named in the list was Majed Ibrahim al-Taweel, confirming the decision to record him as a militant. As such, Airwars added the source from PIJ to this incident, but the number of civilians and militants reportedly killed in this incident did not change.

A Facebook testimony by Tagamo, a possible relative of the family, helped to identify 22 deceased family members by name. 64-year old Professor Abdel Aziz Saeed Muhammad al-Taweel (Abu Mazen) was killed alongside his wife, a 54-year old Tukween Ibrahim Ali al-Taweel, and her sister Haifa al-Taweel. The professor and Tukween’s 28-year old daughter Rasha Abdel Aziz Saeed al-Taweel and Rasha’s daughter Tukween al-Taweel were also killed.

Among the victims of the strike was Abdel Aziz’s brother – Ibrahim Saeed al-Taweel (Abu al-Majd) along with his first wife, 45-year old Tughreed Khamees Isma’il al-Taweel. Ibrahim and Tughreed’s 25-year old son Majd Ibrahim Saeed al-Taweel and 22-year old daughter Hind Ibrahim Saeed al-Taweel were also killed, as was Ibrahim’s second wife 26-year-old Mona Abdul Nasser al-Taweel.

The testimony further mentions the deceased sons of Abdel Nasser al-Taweel, namely a 33-year old Saeed Abdel Nasser Saeed al-Taweel (a militant) who was killed alongside his wife 34-year-old Samah A’ssam Abdulaziz al-Taweel (Eid) and their three daughters: 9-year-old Lara Saeed Abdel Nasser al-Taweel, Mona Abdel Nasser Saeed al-Taweel, and 3-year-old Liyan Abdel NasserSaeed al-Taweel.

On April 18, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published another non-exhaustive list, this time of affiliated commanders. Among those named in the list was Saeed Abdel Nasser Saeed al-Taweel, and Airwars updated his status from civilian to militant.

Abdel Nasser’s other son Bahjat Abdul Nasser al-Taweel (Abu Tamer) who was killed alongside his 33-year old wife Rasha Sameer Muhammad al-Taweel and their two sons, an 8-year old Tamer Bahjat Abdel Naser al-Taweel and a 5-year old Nasser Bahjat Abdel Nasser al-Taweel. Facebook user Tawi posted a video showing a funeral procession for Saeed Abdel Nasser al-Taweel.

The al-Taweel family has also lost the “activist and initiator”, a 52-year old woman Tufaha Saeed Muhammad al-Taweel (Umm Saeed), and the children of Zaki al-Taweel – 31-year old son Ahmed al-Taweel Abu Omar (Abu Wael) (a militant) and a 28-year old daughter Mariam Zaki Yusuf al-Taweel.

Noted above, Abdel Aziz and Tukween’s surviving son Ahmed Abdel Aziz posted to Facebook on the one-year anniversary of the “massacre” of his family, writing that 54 people were killed. In naming his family members who were killed, he added that seven members of the Eid family were also killed, as were a number of neighbours and individuals who happened to be passing by. While Samah’s maiden name appears to be ‘Eid’, Ahmed named Saeed, Samah, Lara, Mona, and Liyan – and as such it seems that he is not considering them to be among the unnamed members of the Eid family.

Digging into this, posting on October 16, Ramadan M Hussein wrote that Hadil Eid and her only daughter, 2-year-old Zina Ashraf A’ssam Eid were among those killed in the “targeting of the Al-Tawil house in Al-Nuseirat Camp.” While Airwars was unable to determine Hadil’s full name, looking at Zina’s name, Hadil was likely married to a man by the name of Ashraf A’ssam Eid – likely a brother of Samah A’ssam whose maiden name appears to be ‘Eid’. It is unclear if additional members of the Eid family were killed.

Musab al-Taweel, a relative of the family, mourned the death of Abu al-Majd al-Taweel, Abu Mazen al-Taweel, and Saeed al-Taweel Abu Abdullah, adding that a large number of the family was killed in the “hideous massacre.” He also shared the images of some family members killed in the attack.

Only one source, Lawir Mahmoud Al-Namrati, mentioned wounded from the al-Taweel family but did not specify how many.

Al Jazeera shared a video of the widespread destruction caused by the bombing, reporting that their correspondent “monitors the effects of destruction from the bombing of the home of the Mukhtar of the Al-Tawil family in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza.” A Facebook user Mokhayaam reported that the place was “leveled completely, ”sharing a video of the destroyed building. Palestine Post shared images of the rescue efforts, saying that the search for victims was still ongoing. A Facebook user Ahmed Adress wrote that there were dozens of bodies of the victims transported from al-Shifa hospital to mass graves, sharing images of the bodies shrouded in white funeral cloth.

The post shared by Ahmed Abdel Aziz on the anniversary of the incident included images of his family members. In three of the images, young boys hold guns. Airwars was able to determine that Bilal was one of the young boys pictured holding a gun and also wearing a small militant uniform. As small arm ownership is common in Gaza, coupled with the fact that Airwars did not find any indication that any child members of the family were in any way participating in hositilies, these images have not been taken to indicate militant activity on behalf of those young boys.

Where possible, names have been matched with 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.

Assessment Updates

24 March 2026

On March 20, 2026, Twitter/X user NuritBaytch notified Airwars that Bahjat had been recorded as a civilian but had been named as a militant by PIJ the day prior. The post added that Ibrahim Al-Taweel also belonged to this incident and was a militant, but hadn't been recorded. Airwars had recorded Ibrahim under the name of 'Abu Majed'. This has since been updated along with the incident's corresponding quantification of those killed in this incident. In reviewing sources that had come online since this incident was first researched, namely - sources posted on the anniversary of this incident - the number of civilians recorded as killed in this incident increased from 21 to 23.

24 June 2026

On June 22, 2026, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published another non-exhaustive list of affiliated commanders killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. This list included Ahmed al-Taweel Abu Omar (Abu Wael), identified as a "martyred fighter". On April 18, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published another non-exhaustive list, this time of affiliated commanders. Among those named in the list was Saeed Abdel Nasser Saeed al-Taweel, and Airwars updated his status from civilian to militant. With these posts, the number of civilians and militants killed in this incident have been updated accordingly.

Victims

Family members (18)

Professor Abdel Aziz Saeed Muhammad Al-Taweel (Abu Mazen) عبد العزيز الطويل

64 years old male Married to Tughreed, father to Rasha Abdel Aziz killed Matched to MoH ID 947100988

Tukween Ibrahim Ali Al-Taweel تكوين الطويل

54 years old female Married to Abdel Aziz, Sister of Haifa killed Matched to MoH ID 902354224

Rasha Abdel Aziz Saeed Al-Taweel رشا عبد العزيز الطويل

28 years old female Daughter of Abdel Aziz and Tughreed killed Matched to MoH ID 401782636

Haifa Ibrahim al-Taweel هيفاء إبراهيم الطويل

Adult female Sister of Tughreed killed

Bilal Ahmed Mohammad Salhah بلال أحمد محمد صالحه

10 years old male Grandson of Abdel Aziz and Tughreed killed Matched to MoH ID 433488822

Tukween Al-Taweel تكوين محمد عبد العزيز الطويل

4 years old female Rasha's daughter (granddaughter of Abdel Aziz and Tughreed) killed Matched to MoH ID 438489353

Tughreed Khamees Isma'il Al-Taweel تغريد خميس إسماعيل الطويل

45 years old female Married to Ibrahim (Abu Majed), Mother of Majed killed Matched to MoH ID 901465443

Mona Abdel Naser Saeed Al-Taweel منى عبد الناصر الطويل

26 years old female Second-wife of Ibrahim killed Matched to MoH ID 402498729

Hind Ibrahim Saeed Al-Taweel هند إبراهيم سعيد الطويل

22 years old female Daughter of Ibrahim and Tughreed killed Matched to MoH ID 405851882

Samah A'ssam Abdel Aziz SaeedAl-Taweel (Eid) سماح عصام عبد العزيز الطويل (عيد)

34 years old female Married to Saeed, Mother to Lara, Mona, and Liyan killed Matched to MoH ID 802401810

Lara Saeed Abdel Nasser al-Taweel لارا سعيد عبد الناصر الطويل

9 years old female Daughter of Samah and Saeed killed Matched to MoH ID 434737730

Liyan Saeed Abdel Nasser al-Taweel ليان سعيد عبد الناصر الطويل

3 years old female Daughter of Samah and Saeed killed Matched to MoH ID 442927471

Mona Saeed Abdel Nasser al-Taweel منى سعيد عبد الناصر الطويل

Child female Daughter of Samah and Saeed killed

Rasha Sameer Muhammad Al-Taweel رشا سمير محمد الطويل

33 years old female Married to Bahjat; Mother to Tamer and Nasser killed Matched to MoH ID 801188384

Tamer Bahjat Abdel Naser Al-Taweel تامر بهجت الطويل

8 years old male Son of Rasha and Bahjat killed Matched to MoH ID 435812193

Nasser Bahjat Abdel Nasser Al-Taweel ناصر بهجت الطويل

5 years old male Son of Rasha and Bahjat killed Matched to MoH ID 440490738

Tufaha Saeed Muhammad Al-Taweel (Umm Saeed) تفاحة سعيد محمد الطويل (أم سعيد)

52 years old female Sister of Abdel Aziz; Mother to Ahed and Mariam killed Matched to MoH ID 925718561

Mariam Zaki Yusuf Al-Taweel مريم زكي الطويل

28 years old female Daughter of Tufaha; Neice of Abdel Aziz killed Matched to MoH ID 400733168

Family members (2)

Hadil Eid هديل عيد

Adult female Mother to Zina killed

Zina Ashraf A'ssam Eid زينة أشرف عصام عيد

2 years old female Daughter of Hadil killed Matched to MoH ID 445082019

Key Information

Incident Status

Assessed

Country

Palestinian territories

Military Actor

Israeli Military

Strike Type

Airstrike

Strike Status

Likely strike

Civilian Harm Reported

Yes

Civilian Harm Status

Fair

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

Civilians reported killed

8 Children, 11 Women, 2 Men

Civilians reported injured

Military actors reported killed

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Nuseirat Camp 5 (مخيم النصيرات 5) northeast of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.452843, 34.390054.

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