Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0343

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

أبراج العودة, al Awda Towers, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.546701, 34.519015 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 18th 2023, at least two civilians, a 40 year-old writer and a 16 year-old child, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike and/or artillery strike on al-Awda Towers, a residential building north of Beit Lahia, Gaza strip.

At 6:21 in the morning, Safa news reported “violent Israeli bombardment in al-Awda Towers, north of Beit Lahia.”  Sources on local and social media including Baghdad Today, Shorouk News and Swaed Gaza News stated that the first tower of the two al-Awda towers had been destroyed in the alleged bombing, with Facebook user QO Sai posting that there were “reports of two martyrs”.

Mohammad Abu Albara listed Hazem Fareed Sabeih (40) as one of the civilians killed, saying “I offer my condolences myself, my family, and the Sobeih family with the martyrdom of my cousin, the martyr, beloved relative, and writer: Hazem Sabeih Abu Muhammad”, adding that he was a resident of al–Awda towers. Facebook user Waleed M. Asead also mourned the death of Yahya al-Majdoub (16), reportedly the second victim of the alleged bombing.

Hazem Fareed Sabeih was mourned by many of his relatives, friends and neighbours, who described him as “beloved,” “smiling,” and “heroic,” sharing images of him with children and other loved ones, always pictured with a radiant smile. Mahmoud Hussneih Madi described him as “the one dear to all our hearts in the al-Awda Towers” and Omar Subeih posted, “The eyes will shed tears and the heart will grieve, and we are saddened by your absence/The martyrdom of my beloved brother Hazem Farid Sobeih “Abu Muhammad”/To God’s mercy, my beloved, and by God, my brother, parting with you is difficult.”  Other relatives described how deeply he would be missed, and posted photos of him with his loved ones to their social media pages.

Airwars has matched both of the names of both of the civilians killed with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

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

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Hazem Farid Sobeih حازم فريد صبيح
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800148249
Yahya al-Majdoub يحيى المجدوب
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424482677

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike on al Awda Towers (أبراج العودة) to the west of Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.546701, 34.519015. 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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (25) [ 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]