Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0378

Incident date

October 19, 2023

Location

منزل لعائلة عواجة بالقرب من مستوصف الزهراء في حي الجنينة شرق رفح, a house for the Awaja family near Al-Zahraa Clinic in the Al-Geneina neighborhood, east of Rafah, Gaza strip, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.271658, 34.272094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, 19 October 2023, at least eight civilians, including at least four children, were killed and four others were injured in an alleged Israeli strike on the Awaja family’s home near the Al-Zahra Clinic in the Al-Geneina neighbourhood, east of Rafah, Gaza strip.

Initial reportage from Safa news, Al Aqsa voice, and sources on social media stated there were seven civilians killed in the strike, with Safa and other sources on social and local media including Palestine Today later updating the death toll to eight. Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya shared videos of the dead and wounded being carried by civilians and rescue workers to ambulances and the Abu Youssef Al-Najjar hospital, with Al Arabiya also sharing images of the bombed home, its facade still standing amongst the rubble. Various sources online shared the names of the civilians killed in the strike – Hossam Jihad Sheikh Khalil (15), Hosni Jihad Sheikh Khalil (19), Jihad Muhammad GhanemMahmoud Muhammad Abu Suleiman (16), Taghreed Khalil Awaja (46), Jihad Abdul Latif AwajaKhaled Tamer Muhammad Awaja (15), and Atef Tamer Muhammad Awaja (15).

Hane posted a video of the bodies of the eight victims in shrouds laid on the ground, while others came to pay their respects. Twitter/X user @ehabomar21 stated that “initially, 4 injuries were reported” as a result of the bombing, while another source on social media shared an image of a young child, with the caption “The child, Joan Sheikh Khalil, is one of the survivors” of the bombing – it is unclear from the image whether she was injured or not. Another user shared the image of a young man, with a caption “May God have mercy on you” – it is unclear which of the victims this young man is. Other sources also mourned the loss on social media, with Asma Hasan sharing a tribute saying “The affliction is great and great… but God’s mercy is greater and more exalted/How difficult is separation.”

Where possible, Airwars has matched names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hossam Jihad Sheikh Khalil حسام جهاد الشيخ خليل
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426263190
Hosni Jihad Sheikh Khalil حسني جهاد الشيخ خليل
19 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 420446205

Family members (4)

Taghreed Khalil Awaja تغريد خليل عواجة
46 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901661470
Jihad Abdul Latif Awaja جهاد عبد اللطيف عواجة
killed
Khaled Tamer Awaja خالد تامرعواجة
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426094835
Atef Nasser Awaja عاطف ناصرعواجة
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 422077891

The victims were named as:

Jihad Muhammad Ghanem جهاد محمد غنام
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Muhammad Abu Suleiman محمود محمد أبو سليمان
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424361590

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of a house for the Awaja family near Al-Zahraa Clinic in the Al-Geneina neighborhood, east of Rafah (منزل لعائلة عواجة بالقرب من مستوصف الزهراء في حي الجنينة شرق رفح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.271658, 34.272094.

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  • Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

  • Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Mahmoud Abu Znada media platform
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    Source: Adlitaha1
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    Source: Business marketing
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    Source: Ꮆ. Ꮑ. ᎶᎯᏃᎬ.ᏁᎯᎬᎬᎷ
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma.hasan.503
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • 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
    8
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]