ISPT0392 – October 20, 2023

Conflict

Israel and Gaza (from 2023)

Incident Code

ISPT0392

Incident Code

ISPT0392

Incident Date

20 October 2023

Location

Khan Younis, Khan Younis, Palestinian territories

خانيونس

Geolocation

31.336273, 34.319926

Accuracy: Province/governorate

Geolocation

31.336273, 34.319926

Accuracy: Province/governorate

Sections

Assessment

Key Information

Victims

Geolocation Notes

Military Statements

Sources

Media from Sources

Permalink

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

On October 20th 2023, between 18 and 22 civilians – including women and children – all members of the ‘Abu Al-Naja’ family were killed, and between 79 and 114 others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on their residential home in the Abu-Shahla neighbourhood in east Khan Yunis, Gaza. It has been reported that the house was subject to an airstrike whilst the residents were asleep.

@ShehabAgency reported that the Abu Al-Naja household was one of six residential homes struck by the Israeli military in the Khan Yunis Governorate. Ambulance and civil defence crews were on-site to take those killed and wounded to Nasser Medical Hospital. The grandparents of the family, Khaled Mahmoud Abu Al-Naja, and his wife Muzain Musa Abu Al-Naja were killed during the alleged strike, along with their five children: Hani Khaled Abu Al-Naja (son), Khalil Khaled Abu Al-Naja (son), Jana Khaled Abu Al-Naja (daughter), Nancy Khaled Abu Al-Naja (daughter) and Hanaa Khaled Abu Al-Naja (daughter). The alleged strike also killed the husband of Hanaa Abu Al-Naja, Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Rock, and the wife of Hani Abu Al-Naja, Israa Al-Muzain.

There were also nine grandchildren of Khaled Abu Al-Naja and Muzain Abu Al-Naja killed during the alleged strike. Six children of Hani Abu Al-Naja and Israa Al-Muzain were killed: Khaled (son), Ahmed (son), Muhannad (son), Rand (daughter) Rawand (daughter) and Raghad (daughter). Two children of Hanaa Abu Al-Naja and Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Rock were killed: Remas (daughter) and Mahmoud (son). The daughter of Nancy Khaled Abu Al-Naja, Toleen (daughter), was also killed during the alleged airstrike.

Since the incident, family members have posted tributes online. Marwa Mohammed Naja, the great niece of Muzain Musa Abu Al-Naja, commiserated the death of her great aunt, and Khaled Mahmoud Abu Al-Naja along with the other “22 people in the house”. These sentiments were echoed by Waam Younes Abu Al-Naja, the niece of Muzain Musa Abu Al-Naja, in a Facebook post that states that more than 20 members of the Abu Al-Naja family were killed during the alleged airstrike. However, the @AbuAl-NajaFamilyGatheringOfficial Facebook post states that 18 members of the family were killed during the alleged Israeli airstrike.

There has also been an outpouring of tributes via Facebook from the cousins of Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Rock, among whom include Ahmad Abu Rok, Ola N. Reck, Deya Abu Rouk and Raed Rouk, Zakrua Haesan Rok. The former neighbour of Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Rock, Wael Abdelaziz Alnaka, expressed his regret at the death of Suleiman and his wife Hanaa along with their two children.

@ShehabAgency initially reported that 34 injuries resulted from the recent attacks on Khan Yunis, then raised the number to 51, and ultimately reported the number of 79 injuries. However, it is unclear how many injuries occurred amongst this incident. @PalinfoAr put the number of injuries at 114, and images posted by @ShehabAgency show at least three children being treated for injuries in a medical facility.

At least 20 members of an “Al Naja” family were also reported killed in an incident three days prior, recorded in Airwars’ archive in ISPT0298.

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

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.

Victims

Family members (18)

Khaled Mahmoud Abu Al-Naja خالد محمود أبو النجا

Adult male killed

Muzain (Mazeen) Musa Abu Al-Naja مزين موسى ابو نجا

57 years old female Khaled's wife killed Matched to MoH ID 914650809

Hani Khaled Abu Al-Naja هاني خالد أبو النجا

Adult male Khaled and Muzain's child killed

Israa Al-Muzain اسراء المزين

Adult female Hani's wife killed

Khaled خالد

Child male Hani and Israa's child killed

Ahmad أحمد

Child male Hani and Israa's child killed

Muhannad مهند

Child male Hani and Israa's child killed

Rand رند

Child female Hani and Israa's child killed

Rawand روند

Child female Hani and Israa's child killed

Raghad رغد

Child female Hani and Israa's child killed

Khalil Khaled Abu Al-Naja خليل خالد أبو النجا

Adult male Khaled and Muzain's child killed

Jana Khaled Abu Al-Naja جنى خالد أبو النجا

Adult female Khaled and Muzain's child killed

Nancy Khaled Abu Al-Naja نانسي خالد أبو النجا

Adult female Khaled and Muzain's child killed

Toleen تولين

Child female Nancy's child killed

Hanaa Khaled Abu Al-Naja هناء خالد أبو النجا

Adult female Khaled and Muzain's child killed

Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Rock سليمان محمود ابو روك

Adult male Hanaa's husband killed

Remas ريماس

Child male Hanaa and Suleiman's child killed

Mahmoud محمود

Child male Hanaa and Suleiman's child killed

Key Information

Incident Status

Assessed

Country

Palestinian territories

Military Actor

Israeli Military

Strike Type

Airstrike

Strike Status

Likely strike

Civilian Harm Reported

Yes

Civilian Harm Status

Fair

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

Civilians reported killed

18–22

9 Children, 5 Women, 4 Men

Civilians reported injured

79–114

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the Khan Younis governorate (محافظة خانيونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.336273, 34.319926. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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