Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0404

Incident date

October 19, 2023

Location

عبسان الكبيرة, Abasan Al Kabira, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.323417, 34.347364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At dawn on Thursday, October 19th 2023, an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Abu Daqqa family house located in the town of Abasan al-Kabira in the Khan Yunis governorate in the Gaza Strip killed an eight-year old boy named Hamza Bashar Jamil (Abu Daqqa).

Shehab Agency initially reported about the serious injury of Hamza Jamil, but later relatives mourned his death in social media tributes. Hamza’s father’s cousin, A. Mohammad Abu Daqqa Abu Mahmoud, posted on Facebook that the family house was completely destroyed, having posted an image of the rubble left from the building.

Hamza Bashar Abu Daqqa was mentioned in tributes by his family members as “the Memorizer of the Book of God” which means that he learned the Koran by heart. His aunt Rasha Alnajjar wrote a touching testimony to his nephew: “My dear, Hamza Bashar, I was talking about you as a leader, and you turned out to be a leader in every way. Brave, intelligent, and this is what I sensed since your childhood. It is enough that you have won the world and memorized the Book of God. And in the hereafter, you will rise as a martyr.”

Another relative, Houria Dehiba wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post: “They killed you and your dreams and the dreams of your mother.”

Hamza Bashar appears in the images shared on Facebook by his relatives as a smiling young boy in diverse locations, including one picture in a traditional attire.

Airwars has matched Hamza Bashar Jamil (Abu Daqqa)’s name to the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023

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

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Hamza Bashar Jamil Abu Daqqa حمزة بشار جميل ابو دقة
8 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426468567

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Abasan Al Kabira (عبسان الكبيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.323417, 34.347364. 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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Mohammad Abu Daqqa Abu Mahmoud
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

    Source: Absan Al Kabira
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Absan Al Kabira

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]