Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0247

Incident date

October 16, 2023

Location

قيزان النجار, Qaizan al Najjar, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.333847, 34.296719 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 19 and 22 people were killed and a number were injured, including serious injuries, on the morning of Monday, October 16, 2023, when the home of the Zaqmat family, in the Qaizan Al-Najjar neighbourhood, in southern Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, was reportedly bombed by an Israeli military aircraft.

The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that two residential homes were hit in the incident and posted images on Facebook of the Bani Suheila municipality Civil Defence team working to remove victims from the rubble and sand.

Sources identified 19 victims from at least three family groups. Grandparents 52-year-old Mohammed Zayed Zaqmat Al-Shaeer (also known as Abu Zayed) and 50-year-old Aisha Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad (also known as Umm Zayed) were killed alongside their 30-year-old son, Zayed Mohammed Zayed Zaqmat (also known as Abu Sajjad). Zayed’s wife and daughter were also reported by the Al-Shaeer family as having been killed but their names were not identified. Zayed’s daughter has been assumed to be a child based on Zayed’s age.

A 45-year-old woman called Randa Abdul Gawad Al-Aqqad (also known as Umm Mohammed) was killed alongside her six children. Her sons, 22-year-old Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad and 14-year-old Anas Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad were killed as well as her daughters 24-year-old Douaa Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad, 21-year-old Maryam Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad, 19-year-old Nour Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad and 16-year-old Alaa Al-Aqqad.

One source, Hani Shaker al-Bana, reported that all members of the Al-Sayed family had been killed in the incident except for the father, Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad. A family member called Youssef Al-Aqqad posted on Facebook a prayer for the speedy recovery of Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad, likely implying that he was injured in the incident.

A family member called Tamer Al-Aqqad, in a post on Facebook, described Aisha as the paternal aunt of the Al-Sayed children.

Another group of six children and young people from the family were killed; they are likely a set of siblings, however, this cannot be confirmed. Three young women, 21-year-old Yasmina Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad, 20-year-old Lubna Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad, and 19-year-old Amira Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad were killed. Two teenage boys 16-year-old Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad and 15-year-old Abdul Rahman Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad were also killed in the incident.

A 45-year-old woman called Suzan Abdullah Hashem Al-Aqqad was killed as well as 49-year-old Abdullah Mohammed Hamdan Al-Aqqad. Abdullah is likely the father of the six children and young people listed above based on their names, however, this cannot be confirmed.

Although Airwars has identified 19 names, one source, @younisalsragi, posted on X/Twitter that the death toll for the incident had risen to 22.

Three sources mentioned displaced people. Merhdad Khalili, in a post on Facebook, reported the death of Zayed Zaqmat’s family alongside several displaced people. Another Facebook post by a page called Eastern Inclusive reported that Mohammed Zaqmat had opened his home to displaced people from the north of Gaza before the incident. Another source, @Benkanaan2, reported that one person had been killed and five children had been injured in a bombing that took place in Khan Younis of the home of a family that had been displaced from Beit Hanoon, which is a municipality in the northern Gaza Strip.

Multiple sources described victims being buried under the rubble of the home and their bodies being recovered. Aida Mohammed reported in a post on Facebook, that 10 victims from the Zaqmat family remained under the rubble at one point.

The Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that the victims were transferred to Nasser Hospital. A photo posted by the Palestinian Civil Defence showed a member of the Civil Defence carrying a limp child into a medical facility.

Hani Shaker al-Bana, a friend of Anas Al-Aqqad posted a heartfelt tribute to him on Facebook, affectionately calling him a “scoundrel” and saying that he had a voice “like one of David’s psalms”. He posted a picture of Anas, commenting that he didn’t know at the time that this picture would be his last.

Hadeel al-Hallees posted a tribute to Randa and her six children on Facebook, describing Randa as “a knowledgeable, loving, giving, a supportive friend and sister, a wonderful mother” and that she would miss her “smile and her sweet words”.

Nassim Hatoum and Hassein Yahi al-Hajj described Zayed Zaqmat in tribute posts on Facebook as a dear friend and as loyal.

The Al-Shaeer family’s Facebook page reported the deaths, posted pictures of the house after it had been destroyed. Pictures taken by a family member called Hani Al-Shaeer showed a digger clearing a large sandy crater where the family house had been and showed significant damage to the neighbouring house. Other pictures posted by the Al-Shaeer family showed civilians and rescue teams pulling victims from the sand and rubble as well as blood-soaked pillows and a destroyed vehicle.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli Military.

The names of all identified victims, other than Alaa Al-Aqqad and Maryam Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad, have been reconciled to the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s list of fatalities published on October 26, 2023.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (20)

Mohammed Zayed Zaqmat Al-Shaeer محمد زيد الشاعر زقماط
52 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 921895991
Aisha Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad عائشة محمد السيد العقاد
50 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 929552966
Zayed Mohammed Zayed Zaqmat زيد محمد زيد الشاعر زقماط
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803879220
Randa Abdul Gawad Al-Aqqad رندة عبدالجواد العقاد
45 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 905401477
Yasmin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad ياسمين عبدالله العقاد
21 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 407799477
Lubna Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad لبنى عبدالله محمد العقاد
20 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 409463122
Amira Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad اميره عبدالله محمد العقاد
19 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 421022567
Alaa Al-Aqqad علاد العقاد
16 years old female killed
Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad محمد عبدالله محمد العقاد
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424651990
Abdul Rahman Abdullah Mohammed Al-Aqqad عبد الرحمن عبدالله محمد العقاد
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426111662
Mohammed Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad محمد السيد محمد العقاد
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407016419
Anas Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad أنس السيد محمد العقاد
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 427558770
Douaa Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad دعاء السيد محمد العقاد
24 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 405140732
Maryam Al-Sayed Al-Aqqad مريم السيد العقاد
21 years old female killed
Nour Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad نور السيد محمد العقاد
19 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 421027335
Suzan Abdullah Hashem Al-Aqqad سوزان عبدالله هاشم العقاد
45 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 900559295
Abdullah Mohammed Hamdan Al-Aqqad عبدالله محمد حمدان العقاد
49 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900309725
Zayed Mohammed Zayed al-Shaeer Zaqmat’s wife زوجة زيد محمد زيد الشاعر زقماط
Adult female killed
Zayed Mohammed Zayed al-Shaeer Zaqmat’s daughter بنت زيد محمد زيد الشاعر زقماط
Child female killed
Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Aqqad السيد محمد العقاد
Adult male injured

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Qaizan al Najjar (قيزان النجار) to the south of Khan Younis (خان يونس). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.333847, 34.296719.

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  • Imagery:
    Aqqad Family Official Website

  • Imagery:
    Aqqad Family Official Website

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19 – 22
  • (5 children10 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (52) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (86) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Aqqad Family Official Website
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
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    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Faraj Abu Hamza
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tamer Al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tamer Al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmood Al-Akkad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yousef Al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hani Shaker al-Bana
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sofian al-Aqqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: News from heart of Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: News from heart of Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: News from heart of Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: News from heart of Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: News from heart of Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Hassein Yahi al-Hajj
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Civil Defence
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Civil Defence
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Civil Defence
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: El-Shaer family in the homeland and diaspora
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Talal A Nahle
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mahmoud Abu Hakim al-Shaer
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Shaer family official page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: RT Ahmed Abd
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  • 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
    19 – 22
  • (5 children10 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • 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 (52) [ collapse]