Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0413

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

دير البلح, Deir al Balah, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.418995, 34.349442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 20th 2023, 17 civilians – including five women and four children – of the ‘Abu Shuaib’ family were killed and several others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on their residential home in the Deir Al Balah neighbourhood, Gaza.

The Ministry of the Interior in Gaza identified the ‘Abu Shuaib’ residence as one of two homes that were allegedly struck by the Israeli military in Deir Al Balah neighbourhood, in the Central Governorate. The grandparents of the family, Walid Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abu Shuiab and his wife, Hanan Saeed Al-Taweel Abu Shuaib were killed, along with their four children: Baraa Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib (son), Nor Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib (daughter), Walaa Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib (daughter) and Aya Walid Muhammmad Abu Shuaib (daughter). The wife of Baraa Ab Shuaib, Islam Abdul Hakim Al-Saafin Abu Shuaib, was also killed along with their four children: Walid Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib (son), Aseel Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib (daughter), Hanan Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib (daughter) and Baraa Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib (daughter).

The alleged airstrike also killed Atef Muhammad Abdel Rahman Abu Shuaib, the brother of Walid Abu Shuaib, and his wife Manal Muhammad Hamad Shuaib, along with their four children: Abdul Rahman Atef Abu Shuaib (son), Muhammad Atef Abu Shuaib (son), Hala Atef Abu Shuaib (daughter) and Khaled Atef Abu Shuaib (son).

Since the incident, family members have posted tributes online. @KhalilShayeb, the nephew of Atef Abu Shuaib, commiserated the death of his uncle and family in a Facebook post. This sentiment was echoed by @Abuanas, the cousin of Baraa Abu Shuaib, who posted a picture of her deceased uncle with his index finger raised to the sky along with commiserations.

These tributes often provide an insight into the personality of those killed. @AbuKhamis, the son-in-law of Walid Abu Shuaib, gave detailed testimonial via Facebook. He described the late Baraa Abu Shuaib as a young and polite man, and Walaa Abu Shuaib, Nour Abu Shuaib, and Aya Abu Shuaib as being “chaste and pure”. @AbuKhamis also paid tribute to his uncle, Atef Abu Shuaib, describing him, his wife and children as a “good and pure group”.

Those outside the Abu Shuaib family also took the time to commiserate the deaths of the Abu Shuaib family. The Facebook account @Sig.palestine, which belongs to a teacher of the late Nor Abu Shaib, described her former student as being very polite.

A video posted by @AlanWkalt documented the funeral for members of the family who were killed and their loved ones mourning their loss.

YPA Agency reported that “several injuries” resulted from the strike with others mentioning “injuries” without providing an exact toll.

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, age and ID numbers released on October 26th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (17)

Walid Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abu Shuaib وليد محمد عبد الرحمن أبو شعيب
Adult male grandfather killed
Hanan Saeed Al-Taweel Abu Shuaib حنان سعيد الطويل أبو شعيب
59 years old female grandmother killed Matched to MoH ID 947100996
Baraa Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib براء وليد محمد أبو شعيب
Adult male Hanan and Walid's child killed
Noor walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib نور وليد محمد أبو شعيب
Adult female Hanan and Walid's child killed
Walaa Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib ولاء وليد محمد أبو شعيب
Adult female Hanan and Walid's child killed
Aya Walid Muhammad Abu Shuaib أية وليد محمد أبو شعيب
Adult female Hanan and Walid's child killed
Islam Abdul Hakim Al-Saafin Abu Shuaib إسلام عبد الحكيم السعافين أبو شعيب
Adult female Hanan and Walid's daughter-in-law killed
Walid Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib وليد محمد وليد أبو شعيب
7 years old male Islam's child killed Matched to MoH ID 437258338
Aseel Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib أبو شعيب
9 years old female Islam's child killed Matched to MoH ID 435281407
Hanan Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib حنان محمد وليد أبو شعيب
Child female Islam's child killed
Baraa Muhammad Walid Abu Shuaib براءة محمد وليد أبو شعيب
22 years old male Islam's child killed Matched to MoH ID 406033985
Atef Muhammad Abdel Rahman Abu Shuaib عاطف محمد عبد الرحمن أبو شعيب
57 years old male Walid's brother killed Matched to MoH ID 940265572
Manal Muhammad Hamad Shaqliya Abu Shuaib منال محمد حمد شقلية أبو شعيب
51 years old female Atef's wife killed Matched to MoH ID 932077381
Abdul Rahman Atef Abu Shuaib عبد الرحمن عاطف أبو شعيب
27 years old male Atef and Manal's child killed Matched to MoH ID 401924956
Khaled Atef Abu Shuaib خالد عاطف أبو شعيب
23 years old male Atef and Manal's child killed Matched to MoH ID 406999011
Muhammad Atef Abu Shuaib محمد عاطف أبو شعيب
18 years old male Atef and Manal's child killed Matched to MoH ID 421356239
Hala Atef Abu Shuaib هالة عاطف أبو شعيب
Child female Atef and Manal's child killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Deir al Balah (دير البلح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.418995, 34.349442. 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
    17
  • (4 children5 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Anass.shaheen.35
  • 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (4 children5 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]