Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0241a

Incident date

October 14, 2023

Location

محافظة دير البلح, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.420319, 34.370157 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 38 people were killed, including 17 children and 12 women, and at least four others were injured, including three children and a woman, after an alleged Israeli airstrike on a home on Abu Arif Street in the Deir Al Balah region of Gaza on the afternoon of October 14th, 2023. Most of those killed were members of the al-Ajrami and Jouda families.

Al-Ghad reported that a total of 38 people were killed in the attack on the Jouda family home.

From the sources, 13 members of the Al-Ajrami family who were killed were identified. From the al-Ajrami family, 57 year old Dr. Ayed Atallah al-Ajrami (Abu Iyad) was killed, as was his wife 59 year old Samira al-Ajrami (Umm Iyad). 32 year old Lubna Ayed al-Ajrami was killed, along with her daughter, six year old Sham Muhammad Abu Obaid. Lubna’s sister Aya Ayed al-Ajrami was also killed with her daughter Nevin Muhammad al-Saati. Several other children were killed: seven year old Malik Muhammad al-Ajrami, their sibling five year old Bahaa Muhammad al-Ajrami, Amir Mahmoud al-Ajrami, eight/nine year old Ayed Iyad al-Ajrami, their sibling 13 year old Hala Iyad al-Ajrami, and six year old Zeina Ziad al-Ajrami. 32 year old Nadia Maher al-Rayes, the wife of Iyad (Ziad) al-Ajrami, was also killed, along with “her children”.

The deceased were remembered in multiple condolence posts on social media. Tamer al-Ajrami, a nephew, described Ayed as someone who “left his kind mark in everyone’s hearts” and “was a symbol of love and giving.” Salma el-Rayes, a cousin of Nadia al-Rayes, wrote that Nadia was a gifted engineer, who had once “won an award for her project to design an elevator for the disabled” and that she was survived by only her child. Images posted by Samer N Nabolsi appear to show Muhammad Al-Ajrami Abu Malik carrying the bodies of his children Malik and Bahaa.

According to Abdullah al-Ajrami, Ayed Atallah al-Ajrami and “fourteen martyrs from their sons, daughters and children” were killed while Ibrahim Melhem reported that 17 extended family members were killed. Anas Alamer Katrge added that “the rest of the family was seriously injured, and Aunt Jamila Talib Al-Amawi, wife of the martyr Abu Iyad Al-Ajrami, and the rest of the family are still in intensive care’. An image posted by Naser alshabat shows a deceased Lubna and “her nephew Zain” giving her a farewell look, while Zain looks to have an injury on his hand.

At least 20 members of the Jouda family were also killed, and their names were identified by the sources. Muhammed Abdulkader Jouda and his wife Samah Tayseer Fares Abu Joudeh (Ghannam) were killed with their sons Yosef Jouda, Mustafa Jouda and Khaled Jouda, and their infant daughter Khadija Jouda, . Muhammed Abdulkader’s brother Wesam Jouda and his daughter Shaima Jouda were also among those killed. Muhammed Abdulkader’s other brother Alaa Jouda was killed with his wife, who remains unnamed. Their children, sons Muhammed Jouda and Abu Bakr Jouda, and daughters Aisha Jouda and Maryam Jouda were also killed. Muhammed Abdulkader’s brother Ismail Jouda and his wife, again unnamed, were killed with their two sons, Abdulkader Jouda and Abdul Rahman Jouda. Muhammed Abdulkader and his siblings’ mother Faeda Ghannam (Hajja Umm Wesam) was among those killed.

Nibal Sukkar posted a condolence message for “21 male and female” members of the Abu Jouda family, including his uncles Alaa, Ismail, Muhammad, and Wesam, along with their families, adding that Muhammad’s eldest son Abdul Al-Qadir and his eldest daughter survived the strike. Ranim Manisy posted a memorial for her friend of more than 16 years Shaima Jouda who was a student of Oral and Dental Medicine at the University of Palestine, describing her as “my friend and my sister” and gave condolences to to Shaima’s mother “my dear teacher Miss Abeer” who wasn’t among those killed. Creative Smurfs Kindergarten also posted a condolence message for their students Abdulkader Jouda, Aisha Jouda and Abdul Rahman Jouda.

Lea Abdel Rahim Al-Jahjouh, Alaa Abdel Karim Abu Joudeh (Al-Assar), Rana Rafat Helmi Abu Mousameh (Al-Rahala), Ahmed Nour Ahmed Abu Lehiyah, Alaa Ayesh Abu Al-Aouf, and Manal Momen Majed Abu Al-Aouf were also named in sources as among those killed.

The al-Ajrami family had heeded prior Israeli warnings to move to the south of the Strip – Ayed Atallah al-Ajrami and his nephew Raji received a call from the Israeli military to move southwards immediately. CNN, drawing from records of the call, reported that IDF officials instructed civilians to move south but gave “no guidance on how to get there,” though Aaed al-Ajrami had asked which roads would be safest to take, being told “It doesn’t matter which road,” the officer replied. “Do it as fast as you can. There is no time left.” The family evacuated their northern home very early on the morning of October 13th, 2023, and traveled to a friend’s home eight miles away, in the safe zone of Deir Al Balah. They would be killed by an airstrike the next afternoon. According to multiple sources, the home belonged to Abu Wesam Jouda and was located opposite the “High Class” lounge on Abu Arif Street.

Ayed’s nephew, Raji, who was with him when he received the IDF guidance to evacuate, was staying at another building nearby when he heard the explosion and rushed to the scene. “The destruction was massive,” Raji said. “We started digging people out who were hit by the explosion, some of them were still alive … the gunpowder smell was very strong, the dust was everywhere.” Following the strike, Raja took in the injured children who survived the strike.

A funeral for the Al-Ajrami family took place in Deir Al Balah cemetery on October 15th, 2023.

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

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 in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (13)

Aaed Atallah al-Ajrami عائد عطالله العجرمي
57 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 949863054
Samira al-Ajrami (Umm Iyad) سميرة العجرمي
59 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 906010459
Lubna Ayed al-Ajrami لبنى عائد العجرمي
32 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803501972
Sham Muhammad Abu Obaid شام محمد ابو عبيد
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 438114787
Aya Ayed al-Ajrami آية عائد العجرمي
Adult female killed
Nevin Muhammad al-Saati يفين محمد الساعاتي
Child female killed
Malik Muhammad al-Ajrami مالك محمد العجرمي
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437193063
Bahaa Muhammad al-Ajrami بهاء محمد العجرمي
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440456457
Amir Mahmoud al-Ajrami امير محمود العجرمي
Child male killed
Ayed Iyad al-Ajrami عائد اياد العجرمي
8 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 434229407
Hala Iyad al-Ajrami حلا اياد العجرمي
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429771926
Nadia Maher al-Rayes نادية ماهر الريس
32 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802795534
Zeina Ziad al-Ajrami زينة زياد العجرمي 
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 438447666

Family members (21)

Samah Tayseer Fares Abu Joudeh (Ghannam) سماح تيسير فارس ابو جوده (غنام)
47 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 900965732
Muhammed Abdulkader Jouda محمد عبد القادر جودة
46 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901624767
Yosef Jouda يوسف جودة
23 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 405946245
Mustafa Jouda مصطفى جودة
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408781813
Khaled Jouda خالد جودة
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421224064
Khadija Jouda خديجة جودة
7 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 436806194
Faeda Ghannam فائدة غنام
Age unknown female killed
Wesam Jouda وسام جودة
50 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 924435100
Shaima Jouda شيماء جودة
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 412276990
Alaa Jouda علاء ابو جودة
41 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 909086480
Alaa Jouda's wife (Unnamed) زوجة علاء ابو جودة
Adult female killed
Muhammed Jouda محمد جودة
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430547117
Abu Bakr Jouda أبو بكر جودة
Age unknown male killed
Aisha Jouda عائشة جودة
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 438477119
Maryam Jouda مريم جودة
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445793391
Ismail Jouda اسماعيل جودة
Adult male killed
Ismail Jouda's wife (Unnamed) زوجة اسماعيل جودة
Adult female killed
Abdulkader Jouda عبد القادر
7 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437400823
Abdul Rahman Jouda عبد الرحمن
6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 438510935
Aisha al-Louh عائشة اللوح
Age unknown female killed
Alaa Abdel Karim Abu Joudeh (Al-Assar) الاء عبد الكريم محمد ابو جوده
34 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 801203464

The victims were named as:

Rana Rafat Helmi Abu Mousameh (Al-Rahala) رنا رأفت حلمي الرحاله
31 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803888890
Lea Abdel Rahim Al-Jahjouh ليا عبد الرحيم الجحجوح
Age unknown killed
Ahmed Nour Ahmed Abu Lehiyah أحمد نور احمد ابو لحيه
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441133501
Alaa Ayesh Abu Al-Aouf الاء عايش أبو العوف
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407830975
Manal Momen Majed Abu Al-Aouf منال مؤمن ماجد ابوالعوف
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 444391163

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the province/governorate of Deir al-Balah (محافظة دير البلح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.420319, 34.370157. 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    38
  • (17 children12 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (63) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (58) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khaled jouda
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    Source: Adnan alajrami
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    Source: Muhammed abu tahoon
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    Source: Muhammed abu tahoon
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    Source: Abdulla ajrami news
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    Source: Abdulla ajrami news
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    Source: Abdulla ajrami news
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    Source: Naser alshabat
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    Source: @basem1gaza
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    Source: @sariabdel
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    Source: KG alsanafer
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    Source: Salma El Rayes
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    Source: Doha E. Hametto
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdullah Ajrami
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    Source: Abdullah Ajrami
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    Source: Abdullah Ajrami
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    Source: Samer N Nabolsi
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    Source: Samer N Nabolsi
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    Source: Etimad Abu Jalala
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    Source: Etimad Abu Jalala
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    Source: Etimad Abu Jalala
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    Source: Etimad Abu Jalala
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mohammed Abu Tahon
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    Source: Mohammed Abu Tahon
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    Source: Marina Sawah Saif
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Marina Sawah Saif
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    Source: Ibrahim Melhem
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    Source: Hisham Abu Asaker
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    Source: Abo asenat
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Imad alimade
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    Source: Imad al-Din Bashir Hamo
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khaled Jouda
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    Source: Shady M Sukker
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Hassan Al-Ajrami
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    Source:
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    Source:
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Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    38
  • (17 children12 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (63) [ collapse]