Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0414

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

تل الزعتر, Tal al Zaatar, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.533112, 34.504583 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 20th 2023, up to 15 civilians were killed and between eight and 15 other people were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the al-Ajrami house in Tal al-Zaatar in Jabalia Camp in the northern Gaza Strip. According to posts on social media, the names of those who were killed are: Shehba Jabr al-Ajrami (aged between 38 and 40), his mother Hajer Muhammad al-Ajrami (aged between 72 and 75), his wife Mona al-Bahnasawy “al-Ajrami” (aged 37), their daughter Maram Shehba al-Ajrami (aged 10), and their sons Suhaib Shehba al-Ajrami (aged 15), Mustafa Shehba al-Ajrami (aged between 12 and 13), and Muhammad Shehba al-Ajrami (aged 6). The names of the other victims remain unknown at the time.

A tweet from @Almeqdad initially placed the toll at five killed and eight injured, while @MahmZozo reported “six martyrs and 15 injuries so far”. A post from Ihab Al-Ajrami included the names of the seven members of the al-Ajrami family who were killed, and added that “8 elderly people, children, women and youth from the neighbors” were also killed.

According to YouthGoGlobal, civil defense crews and medical staff treated injured civilians and recovered the bodies of those that died. The body of Shehba al-Ajrami was recovered from under the rubble of his house. Photos circulated social media showing medical staff carrying distressed children to hospitals and treating the injuries of several very young children and a baby. Also photos of the house of the ruined al-Ajrami family were posted.

A particularly shocking image shows the burnt body of a young child. Marwa posted on Facebook “the burned body of a child from the rise of the family of cousin Shehba Jabr al-Ajrami”.

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 strikes to Israeli forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Hajer Muhammad Al-Ajrami هيجر محمد العجرمي
72 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 949861058
Shehdeh Jabr Al-Ajrami شحدة جبر العجرمي
38 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 801317553
Mona Al-Bahnasawy Al-Ajrami منى البهنساوي "العجرمي
37 years old female killed
Suhaib Shehdeh Al-Ajrami صهيب شحدة العجرمي
15 years old male killed
Mustafa Shehdeh Al-Ajrami مصطفى شحدة العجرمي
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430139410
Muhammad Shehda Al-Ajrami محمد شحدة العجرمي
6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437320963
Maram Shehdeh Al-Ajrami مرام شحدة العجرمي
10 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 433837010

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Tal al Zaatar (تل الزعتر) in Jabalia (جباليا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to find boundaries for the neighbourhood and to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tal al Zaatar are: 31.533112, 34.504583.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (4–8 children2–4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–15
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (28) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Hasen
  • 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
    7 – 15
  • (4–8 children2–4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–15
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]