Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0359

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

محيط مسجد الصادقين, Vicinity of al Sadiqin Mosque, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.518217, 34.489285 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 18 October 2023, 11 people were killed and 13 people were injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike hit the home of the Al-Harazin family on Al-Sikka Street, near Al-Sadiqin Mosque in Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.

The attack was reported by Palinfo on Twitter/X, via a post stating that a warplane had bombed the home causing deaths and multiple injuries. A post from Facebook user Nedal Nayef claimed that 13 people had been injured. More details on the exact location and victims of the attack were posted via family and friends on Facebook.

Nephews, friends and other family members of the Al-Harazin family posted on social media mourning the loss of 11 people in the attack. Riyad Muhammad al-Harazin and his wife, referred to only as Umm Muhammad, were killed in the attack on their home, alongside their daughter Najma Riad al-Harazin, and two sons Abdul Hadi Riyad al-Harazin and Muhammad Riyad al-Harazin. Abdul’s daughter Sadan Abboud al-Harazin died alongside her father, while Muhammad’s wife Fidaa Khaled al-Harazin and their son Abdul Rahman Muhammad al-Harazin were also reportedly killed in the airstrike. Riyad’s granddaughter was also allegedly killed in the attack but was not named. Anwar Shuwaikh al-Harazin and her daughter (unnamed) were also reported amongst those killed by the alleged Israeli airstrike on the home. Esraa al-Hazareen took to Facebook to lament those still believed under rubble: “My uncle’s wife and daughter Najma are still under the rubble. Their bodies have not been found.”

User @az_za98 posted on Twitter/X, claiming that two people were rescued from the rubble of the home but it is unclear from the tweet if they survived the attack or not. Based on posts from various family members on Facebook, as many as four children may have been killed in this attack, although the exact ages of those killed are unclear.

The house was left in pieces, with nephew Mohammad Ramy posting on Facebook that it had been “completely blown up.” The family, he said, was “in crisis.”

Airwars was not able to match any of the names of victims with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names, age and ID numbers released on October 26th.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Riyad Muhammad Al-Harazin رياض محمد الحرازين
Adult male killed
Wife of Riyad زوجة رياض
Adult female killed
Najma Riad Al-Harazin نجمة رياض الحرازين
Adult female killed
Abdul Hadi Riyad Al-Harazin عبد الهادي رياض الحرازين
Adult male killed
Sadan Abboud Al-Harazin سدن عبود الحرازين
Child female killed
Muhammad Riyad Al-Harazin محمد رياض الحرازين
Adult male killed
Fidaa Khaled Al-Harazin فداء خالد الحرازين
Adult female killed
Abdul Rahman Muhammad Al-Harazin عبد الرحمن محمد الحرازين
Child male killed
Anwar Shuwaikh Al-Harazin أنوار شويخ الحرازين
Adult female killed
Daughter of Anwar ابنة أنوار
Child female killed
Granddaughter of Riyad حفيدة رياض
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of al Sadiqin Mosque (مسجد الصادقين) to the north of Gaza city (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.518217, 34.489285. 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (4 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

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
    11
  • (4 children4 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]