Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0415

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

مخيّم النصيرات, Nuseirat camp, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.450065, 34.392934 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 20, 2023, eight civilians were killed and up to 100 injured – including women and children – after an alleged airstrike by the Israeli military on the ‘Nawfal’ family residence on the 20th Street of ‘Block C’ in Al Nuseirat refugee camp near the centre of Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian news agency Safa reported that the Nawfal family home, which was located near the entrance of Nusseirat, on 20th Street, near the Al-Huda Mosque, was struck. Multiple sources reported that more than 100 civilians were inside the house during the incident, with @sabrifarra24 posting an urgent plea for ambulances to go to the house to help the wounded. According to a post by @Hamzaalnamla1 on Twitter/X, dozens of displaced civilians were sheltering in the house when the strike occurred. Images posted by @Alburaij1948 and @Abdulkarim on Facebook show that civilians, including children, suffered severe injuries during the strike. However, the exact details and condition of those injured is unknown. Multiple sources reported that the majority of the victims were children.

During the strike, 36-year-old Hanan Ahmed Salim Baousha and her husband, 39-year-old Saed Nawfal Saleh Nawfal, were reported killed along with their four children. Their two daughters, 17-year-old Malak Saed Nawfal and 14-year-old Abeer Saed Nawfal were killed as well as their two sons, 12-year-old Muhammad Saed Nawfal and 6-year-old Amir Saed Nofal. The airstrike also resulted in the deaths of Hanan’s father, 70-year-old Ahmed Salim Baalousha (also known as Abu Iyad), and her mother, Jamila Salem Atwa Baalousha.

A Facebook page that reports urgent news about Gaza reported that seven victims were recovered from the incident initially, and described some of them, from the Nawfal family, as being in “pieces.”

The Twitter/X account @Gazanow111 reported that the house belonged to Nawfal Nawfal, also known as Abu Raed, who is likely the father of Saed Nawfal Saleh Nawfal.

@Hamzaalnamla1 reported in a post on Twitter/X that the bomb ignited a fire on the site.

Since the incident, heartfelt testimonials have been posted online by the family members of the deceased. Iyad and Mero Baalousha, the children of Ahmed Salim Baalousha and Jamila Salem Baalousha, posted to Facebook mourning the death of their parents, their sister Hanan, her husband Saed, along with their four nephews and nieces.

The names of all of the identified victims, except for Jamila Salem Atwa Baalousha, have been reconciled with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities published on October 26, 2023.

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 (8)

Saed Nawfal Saleh Nawfal سائد نوفل صالح نوفل
39 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800366510
Hanan Ahmed Salim Baousha حنان أحمد سليم بعلوشة
36 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800764128
Malak Saed Nawfal ملك سائد نوفل
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424161420
Abeer Saed Nawfal عبير سائد نوفل
14 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429186224
Muhammad Saed Nawfal محمد سائد نوفل
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430434050
Amir Saed Nofal أمير سائد نوفل
6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 438963191
Ahmed Salim Baalousha أحمد سليم بعلوشة
70 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 971382742
Jamila Salem Atwa Baalousha جميلة سالم عطوة بعلوشة
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Nuseirat camp (مخيّم النصيرات), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.450065, 34.392934. 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: AhmedSaqerNofal
  • 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • 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 (24) [ collapse]