Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0418

Incident date

October 21, 2023

Location

جوار مدرسة الشيخ جبر, Vicinity of Sheikh Jabr School, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.349221, 34.295653 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, seven civilians, including two infants, were reported killed and dozens injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the house of the Al-Najjar family next to Sheikh Jabr School in Khan Yunis refugee camp, south of the Gaza Strip.

Among the seven killed were Elham Arafat Ashour (45), her three daughters Janne Hisham Hamouda (infant), Duaa Ahmed Ashour (23), and Baraa Ahmed Ashour (25), her infant granddaughter (Baraa’s daughter) Watin Yasser Abu Al-Fatiya, as well as Tariq Jamal Shehdeh Abu Ishaq (30) and Ziad Wasfi Abu Awad (41).

Although the exact number of civilians injured hasn’t been confirmed by a second source, @Henno01010 on Twitter/X claimed that “7 were killed and 45 others were injured in an Israeli bombing that targeted the Al-Najjar family’s home”. Additionally, Esraa Ahmed (@esraa_ahmrd) and Shehab News Agency (@ShehabAgency) on Twitter/X shared the photos by photographer Nader N Jarghon that showed four of those injured being taken to and treated at a medical facility, including a young child and a baby. Images posted by MSDR News (MsdrNews) on Facebook also showed a number of injured civilians being taken from ambulances into the medical facility.

A Facebook post from Lama Abuhilal reported that Anas Al-Najjar and his family survived the bombing, but did not specify if they were among the injured. Other sources mention that the Al-Najjar home was hit by the strikes.

Multiple sources pointed out that the Sheikh Jabr School near where the strike occurred is a UNRWA school which is sheltering displaced people.

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.

In cases where sources attributed responsibility for the strike, they held the Israeli military responsible.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Elham Arafat Ashour إلهام عرفات عاشور
45 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901468900
Janne Hisham Hamouda جنة هشام حمودة
0.6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444465603
Duaa Ahmed Ashour دعاء أحمد عاشور
23 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 406065987
Baraa Ahmed Ashour براءة أحمد عاشور
25 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403290752
Watin Yasser Abu Al-Fatiya وتين ياسر أبو الفتية
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Tariq Jamal Shehdeh Abu Ishaq طارق جمال شحدة أبو إسحاق
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804683282
Ziad Wasfi Abu Awad زياد وصفي أبو عواد
41 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 909121410

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Sheikh Jabr School (مدرسة الشيخ جبر) to the west of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.349221, 34.295653. 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, Residential building, School, UN facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    45
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Lama.j.abuhilal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lama.j.abuhilal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: EuropeanARea
  • 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building, School, UN facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 children3 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    45
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]