Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0291

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

حي التنور، رفح, Al Tanour area, Rafah, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.267125, 34.273894 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 17th 2023, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the al-Jazzar family house in the Al Tanour area, in east Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, killing up to 12 people, including 11 members of the al-Jazzar family, and injuring 12 others, including three children.

63 year old Zaki Mahmoud al-Jazzar was killed along with his six sons: 38 year old Ahmed Zaki al-Jazzar, 38 year old Mahmoud Zaki al-Jazzar, 27 year old Aziz Zaki al-Jazzar, Jihad Zaki al-Jazzar, 25 year old Saad Zaki al-Jazzar and 39 year old Bilal Zaki al-Jazzar, with his 28 year old wife Noura, and their three children. A friend of the al-Jazzar family, 28 year old Amjad Abu Shalouf was also killed.

Eman al-Jazzar, a relative of the family posted on Facebook that her aunt’s house “was bombed and its residents were bombed, some of them are martyrs, some are wounded, and many are still under the rubble”. Eman al-Jazzar also said one of those killed, Saad Zaki al-Jazzar, had just gotten married in July. Mohanad Obaid also posted a memorial for the al-Jazzar family, saying to Mahmoud Zaki al-Jazzar “Your father is a hero and you are the man of the house after him”.

Abeer Mohamad posted: “Suddenly, there is no such thing as an uncle, cousins, ancestors, and grandchildren, all of them gone, and the house and the memories of the house are gone.” The Facebook post from Abeer Mohamad also stated “May God have mercy on you, Noura, and forgive you. You went and took your husband and your children with you. That’s it. We’ll stop sitting together and drinking coffee on the porch while the kids were at school. You went and the kids went.” This may be referring to Bilal Zaki al-Jazzar, his wife, and his children, which may indicate that his wife’s name was Noura.

Initial reports stated that there were three to four people killed and a number injured or missing. A Facebook post by Mohanad Obaid added that nine members of the al-Jazzar family had been killed in the alleged strike. Numerous other reports state at least six to nine civilians killed as more information on the incident became clear.

Shehab Agency initially reported on 17th October that the number of injured was 12 and the number of martyred as three. However, on 18th October, Safa Agency along with numerous other sources stated more than 10 civilians were killed, and a number were still missing.

In a video that was widely circulated on social media, a young child named Muhammad Abu Luli is seen shaking “after he woke up to an Israeli bombing that targeted the Al-Jazzar family’s home in his neighborhood in the city of Rafah”. Images show at least three different children being treated for their injuries, including the child Muhammad Abu Luli.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Zaki Mahmoud Al-Jazzar زكي محمود الجزار
63 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 909412033
Bilal Zaki Al-Jazzar بلال زكي الجزار
39 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800170029
Noura Khaled Hassan Al-Jazzaar نورا خالد حسن الجزار
38 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800207219
Child of Bilal طفل بلال
killed
Child of Bilal طفل بلال
killed
Child of Bilal طفل بلال
killed
Ahmed Zaki Al-Jazzar احمد زكي الجزار
38 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800552325
Mahmoud Zaki Al-Jazzar محمود زكي الجزا
38 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800552333
Abdul Aziz Zaki Al-Jazzar عبد العزيز زكي الجزار
27 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 401087663
Jihad Zaki Al-Jazzar جهاد زكي الجزار
male killed
Saad Zaki Al-Jazzar سعد زكي الجزار
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 404265209
Amjad Abu Shalouf امجد ابو شلوف
28 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400657573

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Al Tanour area (حي التنور) to the east of Rafah (رفح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.267125, 34.273894.

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  • Imagery:
    Hosam Khalaf

  • Imagery:
    Mohammad Rafaat

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
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    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
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    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist Adel Zourob Official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Kingdom’s Voice with Amer Alrojoub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Kingdom’s Voice with Amer Alrojoub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Kingdom’s Voice with Amer Alrojoub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Kingdom’s Voice with Amer Alrojoub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Kingdom’s Voice with Amer Alrojoub
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mohammad Rafaat
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    Source: Safa Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Abeer Mohamad
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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
    8 – 12
  • (3 children1 woman8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]