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.