Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0288

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

الحي الياباني, Japanese quarter, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.361320, 34.292108 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday, October 17th 2023, at least 10 civilians were reported killed, including children, and another 35 were reported injured, including at least three children, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a house in the Japanese Quarter, west of Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip.

Shehab Agency reported that “more than 10 civilians” were killed in the bombing, with Palestine Today, Al Bald, al Watan, Wafa and Addiwan news adding that those killed included children, and that displaced people in a school near the bombed home were injured. Roya News stated that “more than 15 Palestinians were killed”, while al Jazeera also reported that the bombing of a house in the Japanese neighbourhood led to “the death of 10 citizens, including children, and the injury of other displaced people in a nearby school.” NewPress tweeted that there were five killed and 35 injured as a result of the bombing of a “house for the Hamdan family in the Japanese neighborhood.”

Twitter user @benkenan shared a video of rescue efforts, with three injured children being carried into ambulances, adding in a caption that “dozens of injuries were recovered.” Sources did not provide any names or details of those killed or wounded in the bombing.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Japanese quarter (الحي الياباني) of the city of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.361320, 34.292108. 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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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, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 16
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]