Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0331

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

مدينة حمد, Hamad Town, Gaza Strip, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.374465, 34.319571 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At dawn on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, at least two people were reportedly killed and between seven and 13 people were injured, with four of them likely to have ended up in a coma, when a residential apartment in Hamad City in western Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, was reportedly bombed by an Israeli military aircraft.

Many sources, including @shehab Agency and Al-Sharq News reported that the bombing resulted in two deaths, but did not specify the number of people injured. Rose Life and Al Jazeera reported that seven people were injured, and Safa.ps, Hani Alshaer and @Alaqsavoice_Brk posted that thirteen people were injured, including four people who ended up in comas, who arrived at Nasser Hospital.

Multiple sources, including Shehab Agency, reported some of the injuries being critical and three sources, Safa.ps, Hani Alshaer and @Alaqsavoice_Brk, reported that four of the injured ended up in a coma. No sources specified whether these victims survived. Airwars will update this assessment if more information comes to light on their condition.

The Palestine Post and Hamad Residential City posts included multiple images of the destroyed residential apartments and damaged residential blocks. Nabd.com described the damage as significant, Palestine Post described there being “major damage” to the residential area and @ayman9323 stated that six apartments were damaged as a result of the bombing. Hamad Residential City reported that the apartment block was tower F4.

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

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–13
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rabab Abu Hatab
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Hamad Residential City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamad Residential City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamad Residential City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamad Residential City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hamad Residential City
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Hamad Town (مدينة حمد) in the city of Khan Younis (خان يونس). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following coordinates: 31.374465, 34.319571.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Hamad Residential City

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    @ayman9323

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–13
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]