Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0284

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

النصيرات, Nuseirat, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.450065, 34.392934 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four people from the Abu Butihan family were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on their home on October 17th, 2023.

Major General Fouad Ali Abu Butihan, 55, was the head of the Crossing and Borders Authority and would oversee crossings out of the Gaza Strip. It was reported that he was killed along with three of his children, a 19 year old son named Jihad Fouad Ali Abu Buttihan, and two other children.

Although Fouad was referred to as a ‘major general’, the description of his role suggests he held a government position, likely to be related to law enforcement, rather than military activity. His combatant status is therefore civilian rather than combatant in this assessment. Airwars will update this assessment should further information come to light about Fouad’s role.

A source on Facebook, Wael Abu Omar, stated two daughters had been killed, while the Abu Buttihan Family Youth Council offered condolences to Abu Butihan and his three sons. Multiple other sources also offered a speedy recovery to the wounded, but none identified how many people had been wounded.

The Hamas-run government posted a commemorative article for Abu Butihan: “We mourn a government leader who worked in many government work sites, and he was an example of sincerity and dedication to work and service to our people. We also bid farewell to a national leader who is attested in the field of resistance to [Israel], and who paid the captivity tax for years in [Israeli] prisons.”

Funeral prayers were held later the same day in the courtyard of the al-Aqsa Hospital.

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.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Fouad Ali Abu Butihan فؤاد علي أبو بطيحان
55 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 962447371
Jihad Fouad Ali Abu Buttihan جهاد فؤاد علي أبو بطيحان
19 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408954188
Fouad Ali Abu Butihan's child (Unnamed) طفل فؤاد علي أبو بطيحان
Age unknown killed
Fouad Ali Abu Butihan's child (Unnamed) طفل فؤاد علي أبو بطيحان
Age unknown killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Nuseirat (النصيرات), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.450065, 34.392934. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency
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    Source: Paltodaytv news
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    Source: Palinfo news
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    Source: Petra news
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    Source: @MohamadDaba9966
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    Source: @alrayps
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    Source: @alrayps
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    Source: @alrayps
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    Source: @alrayps
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    Source: @Rassd_Oman
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    Source: @SinaiTribes
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    Source: @bawabaanews
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    Source: @PolitiketAr
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mohamedjebriel
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    Source: Mohamedjebriel
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    Source: Mediagovps
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    Source: Groups
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Committee of the Youth of the Abu Batihan Family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Committee of the Youth of the Abu Batihan Family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Committee of the Youth of the Abu Batihan Family
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Committee of the Youth of the Abu Batihan Family
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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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]