Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0323

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

قرب مسجد اليرموك, Vicinity of the Yarmouk Mosque, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.522500, 34.462778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 18th 2023, at around 5.15am, an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the Labad family home near the Yarmouk Mosque, east of Jabalia Camp in Gaza. A number of deaths and injuries were reported, including several women and children. However, the precise number remains unknown as many victims were reported as still missing beneath the rubble. The victims have not been identified.

At 5.17am Shehab Agency reported ‘martyrs and wounded when occupation aircraft bombed a house for the Labad family near the Yarmouk Mosque in Gaza.’ Several other news outlets subsequently reported the same incident, mentioning killed and wounded victims, including women and children.

In videos and photos shared online, children are shown trapped beneath the rubble, dozens of people surround the victims trying to dig them out and others lift the collapsed building in search of other victims.  In a video shared by @SbintQtr, a young boy, buried chest deep in rubble, gestures in distress towards the camera as he, helped by those around him, tries to get out. The comment alongside the video reads ‘‘the moment a child was rescued from under the rubble after the occupation bombed a house for the Labad family east of the Jabalia camp, leaving a number of martyrs and injuries at dawn today.’

On the 19th October, the day after the incident, several users on social media reported that a number of victims were still beneath the rubble. @Alaqsavoice_Brk tweeted ‘there are a number of citizens under the rubble.’ Facebook user Anas also reported that ‘the search for missing persons is still ongoing.’

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

The incident occured at approximately 5:15 am local time.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Yarmouk Mosque (مسجد اليرموك) in Gaza City (غزة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the Yarmouk Mosque are: 31.522500, 34.462778.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: @Mohamedsa2ed1
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Mohamedsa2ed1
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Safaagencyps
  • 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
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]