Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0351

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

ِبني سهيلا, Bani Suhaila, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.342130, 34.325343 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 18 2023, between six and 12 civilians were reportedly killed, including at least one child, and between 35 and 45 others were injured, including at least one child, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Fasifis family home and Abu Ishaq family home in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip.

Initial reportage from Safa news stated that “a martyr and 35 (were) injured” as a result of the alleged bombing, with later figures published as six killed and 45 injured. Twitter/X user @PSLK1154 updated the death toll to seven killed, and shared an image of the bodies of those killed in white shrouds – one of whom appears to be a young child. Al Hadath attributed the alleged bombing to Israeli forces and reported that the number of those killed had risen to 12, sharing images of the injured and killed being taken into Nasser hospital. Alhagega Aldawalia shared an image of a building in ruins, purportedly one of the homes hit by the alleged strike. In a video shared to Facebook by Abo Yaazan Abd Alla, emergency workers can be seen rushing an injured child into Nasser hospital. Another video shared on Twitter/X by @passantelsadany showed a giant plume of smoke rising a building in the distance, with a caption that “Israeli airstrikes” had struck the Fasifis and Abu Ishaq homes, and that there were “martyrs and wounded” at the scene.

Sources did not provide names or further details of the victims of this alleged strike.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bani Suhaila (ِبني سهيلا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.342130, 34.325343. 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
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 12
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–45
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: @PSLK1154
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

  • 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
    6 – 12
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    35–45
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]