Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0342

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

محيط الكلية الجامعية للعلوم التطبيقية, Vicinity of University College of Applied Sciences, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.497772, 34.436670 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 18th 2023, an alleged Israeli strike hit the al-Baba family home located near the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza City, reportedly killing 15 civilians spanning three generations, including seven children and six women, among them a mother with one-month-old quadruplets.

Among those killed were three generations of the al-Baba family. A 59-year-old grandfather Khaled Hassan Wadi al-Baba (Abu Fadi) was killed alongside his wife, Maha Abdel Karim Basal, one of their sons, the 32-year-old lawyer Muhammad Khaled Hassan al-Baba (Abu Anas), and their three daughters, a 34-year old Azhar Khaled Hassan Wadi al-Baba, a 29-year old Aya Khaled Hassan al-Baba, and a 26-year old Bisan Khaled al-Baba.

Various relatives and acquaintances posted condolence messages honouring the late Khaled and his family on Facebook. The al-Baba family account posted the tribute on Facebook mourning the death of the 15 family members. Khaled’s nephew, Husni Shahibar, described his aunt Maha as his “second mother” and “the best creation of his Lord.” He also referred to his uncle Khaled as his “teacher” and “second father.”

Numerous friends and relatives wrote tributes to Khaled’s son, Muhammad Abu Anas, who was a lawyer. Muhammad’s friends, Mohamed Sameer Abdel-Al and Abed Alrahman Shbair shared pictures of Muhammad, a young bearded man, and described him as a “kind-hearted friend” with a “pure soul” and a “cheerful face,” while Abu Amal Palestine referred to him as his “beloved brother” and “childhood friend.”

Khaled’s daughter-in-law, Wafa Abdel Khaleq al-Suwayrki was killed alongside her one-month-old quadruplets – a daughter named Maha Fadi al-Baba and three sons, Khaled Fadi al-Baba, Abdul Khaleq Fadi al-Baba, and Mahmoud Fadi al-Baba. Various sources, including Wafa’s cousin, Mohannad al-Suwaryki and Twitter/X user @Layann1948, among others, reported that Wafa had been trying to have children for 15 years; her story had recently been featured in news media along with pictures. Facebook user Abdel Kareem Al-Tam posted the images of the four dead infants.

Another daughter-in-law of Khaled and Maha, Nesma al-Yaziji, was also killed alongside her infant daughters – Maha Hassan al-Baba, Miral Hassan al-Baba, and Massa Hassan al-Baba.

According to a Facebook post by Maha’s cousin, Khael Rabee, the only survivor of the attack was Hassan Fadi, Nesma’s husband.

Though the exact local time of the incident is unknown, the Palestinian Press Agency reported on the same day at 7:17 a.m. that the remains of Wafa and her four children had been recovered from beneath the rubble.

The names of ten victims have been reconciled with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities published on October 26, 2023.

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 (15)

Khaled Hassan al-Baba خالد حسن عوض البابا
59 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 964880868
Maha Abdel Karim Basal مها عبد الكريم بصل
Adult female killed
Muhammad Khaled Hassan al-Baba محمد خالد حسن البابا
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802931204
Azhar Khaled Hassan al-Baba أزهار خالد حسن الباب
34 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802225995
Aya Khaled Hassan al-Baba آيه خالد حسن الباب
29 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 400140257
Bisan Khaled Hassan al-Baba بيسان خالد حسن البابا
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403018039
Wafa Abdel Khaleq Latif Al-Baba (al-Suwayrki) وفاء عبد الخالق لطفي البابا السويركي
36 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 801583261
Khaled Fadi al-Baba خالد فادي البابا
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 446099970
Abdul Khaleq Fadi al-Baba عبد الخالق فادي البابا
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445344443
Mahmoud Fadi Khaled al-Baba محمود فادي البابا
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445344443
Maha Fadi Khaled al-Baba مها فادي البابا
0.6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 446014441
Nesma al-Yaziji نسمة اليازجي
Adult female killed
Maha Hassan al-Baba مها حسن البابا
Child female killed
Miral Hassan al-Baba ميرال حسن البابا
Child female killed
Massa Hassan al-Baba ماسه حسن البابا
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of University College of Applied Sciences (الكلية الجامعية للعلوم التطبيقية) to the west of Gaza city (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.497772, 34.436670. 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (7 children6 women2 men)
  • 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.

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mohamed Sameer Abdel-Al
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Abed Alrahman Shbair
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: @Layann1948
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdel Kareem Al-Tam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Damascus Perfume

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (7 children6 women2 men)
  • 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.

Sources (15) [ collapse]