Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0422d

Incident date

October 21, 2023

Location

الجنينة, Al Geneina, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.272972, 34.265706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and his four sons were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on their home in the al-Geneina neighbourhood in Rafah at dawn on 21 October 2023: father 60-year-old Samir al-Kurd, and his sons 40-year old Tamer Samir al-Kurd, 33-year-old Sami Samir al-Kurd, 32-year-old Hisham Samir Rajab al-Kurd, and a fourth son whose name has not been identified. News platform Alwatan Voice reported that the victims “were found under the rubble” following the strike.

Friends and family took to social media to mourn the victims, including Yahya Muhammad al-Balbis, Ahmed al-Karnaz Abu Karam, Ahmed Jaafar al-Kurd, as well as Abu Khaled al-Ashqar, who remembered his “esteemed friend, brother, and colleague, Tamer al-Kurd,” and spoke of their “years at the same table in school and years of friendship and brotherhood… Oh heartache.” Abdul Rahman Adnan al-Hams shared a photo with Hisham and indicated he was survived by his wife, referring to her as “Lulu,” writing: “The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and we are saddened by your departure. My brother-in-law, the martyr: Hisham Samir al-Kurd (Abu Malik) (…) We ask God to strengthen your heart, my beloved sister Lulu and to give us patience over the loss of our dearly beloved Abu Malik.”

Photos shared by news platform Palestine Post showed the extent of destruction by the airstrike, with the family home reduced to rubble. No public sources claimed that any of the men were not civilians.

Airwars has matched all of the 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 incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Samir Rajab Aal-Kurd سمير الكرد
60 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 924421134
Tamer Samir al-Kurd تامر سمير الكرد
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 926735424
Sami Samir Rajab al-Kurd سامي سمير الكرد
33 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802718585
Hisham Samir Rajab al-Kurd هشام سمير الكرد
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803309327
Son of Samir (Unnamed) ابن سمير
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of al Geneina (الجنينة), to the east of  Rafah (رفح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for al Geneina are: 31.272972, 34.265706.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: a. Ahmed Al-Karnaz Abu Karam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Rahman Adnan Al-Hams
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Khaled Al-Ashqar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Khaled Al-Ashqar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yahya Muhammad Al-Balbisi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @16_gouda
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @16_gouda
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @16_gouda
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @16_gouda
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Jaafar Al-Kurd

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
    5
  • (5 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]