In the evening of Sunday, October 15th 2023, at least 21 identified family members spanning three generations of the Ghabayen (Ghubayn) family were killed, including five women and six children, in an alleged Israeli airstrike in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, Deir al-Balah region, central Gaza Strip.

Mustafa Ghabayen, who survived the alleged attack, told Alhurra.com that his family had fled the Al-Tuffah area in Eastern Gaza. “We thought we would be safer here in Al-Nuseirat, but that is what happened. More than 18 martyrs, and there are missing people, and there are those who are under the rubble”. The deceased remained on the floor overnight because “the morgue had no room to accommodate the bodies”.

The Ghabayen family’s relatives and friends expressed their sorrow for the victims through numerous social media posts. “My uncle Khaled Ghabayen and Mounir Ghabayen, the honorable members of their families, rose to their Creator as martyrs”, wrote Somaia Hassan.

The victims were identified in various Facebook posts by family members.

39-year-old Mahmoud Darwish Mustafa Ghabayen was killed along with his wife, 32-year-old Abla Mounir Ghabayen and their three daughters: ten-year-old Suwar Mahmoud Ghabayen, eight-year-old Dima Mahmoud Ghabayen and Kenzi Mahmoud Ghabayen, who was only four years old.

Mahmoud’s sister, 29-year-old Maryam Darwish Mustafa Ghabayen, and her husband, 35-year old Abdullah Mounir Ghabayen were also killed along with their three daughters, 11-year-old Lynn Abdullah Ghabayen, five-year old Bisan Abdullah Ghabayen, and two-year-old Mira Abdullah Ghabayen, and a son, Suhaib Abdullah Ghabayen, who was eight years old.

63-year-old Fayza Ibrahim Ghabayen, Mahmoud’s and Maryam’s aunt, was killed as were her husband Khaled Ghabayen, and their two daughters, 35-year-old Rose (Ruzah) Khaled Mohammad Ghabayen and possibly Nassim Khaled Ghabayen. Some sources listed her among the victims killed, but Nada Ahmed Facebook user reported that she was not hurt in the attack.

Nassim’s children – four daughters and a son – were also killed. 58-year-old Fawzia Ibrahim Youssef Ghabayen, also an aunt of Mahmoud and Maryam, was killed along with her husband, Mounir Ghabayen, who was also 58 years old.

Fatima Ahmed also shared her heartfelt testimony:

“Perhaps I only remember a little of my childhood in Iraq, and most of that little is in the house opposite our house, the house of my uncle Khaled and my aunt Fayza Ghabayen, who were the best family for us and neighbors in our exile… and today they are rising as martyrs, and their daughter Rose and the daughters of Naseem and her son”

Khaled Hisham, Ammar Alladaa, and Mahmoud Almadhoun all published photos of Mahmoud Ghabayen who was described as a beloved “brother and friend” who “was martyred along with his wife and daughters”.

Similarly, the Al Karamah School posted a condolence message on their Facebook account: “With hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny, the family of Al Karama Common Basic School extends its sincere condolences to the Ghabayen family on the martyrdom of our dear colleague, dear to our hearts, Abla Ghabayen and her family.”

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

According to The New Arab, the alleged strike occurred in the evening.

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

The incident occured in the evening.