Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0450

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

منزل الزيناتي  في حي الأمل غرب خانيونس, Al-Zinati’s house in the Al-Amal neighbourhood, west of Khan Yunis, Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On the evening of Sunday, October 22nd 2023, at least four civilians were killed and 18 others, including more than 15 children, were reportedly injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike that bombed Al-Zinati’s house in the Al-Amal neighbourhood, in the west of Khan Yunis, in the central Gaza Strip.

This incident resulted in the deaths of several civilians, including 32-year-old Hisham Musa Al-Zinati and his five-year-old son, Malik Hisham Al-Zinati. Hisham’s brother, Ahmad Musa Al-Zinati and his wife, Noor al-Madhoun, were injured in the incident, and their two children, Khaled Ahmed Al-Zinati (4 years old) and Musa Ahmed Al-Zinati (2 years old) were killed. Kareem Musa Al-Zinati and Hisham Musa al-Zinati’s wife were also injured in the incident.

According to the Fatah Media and Culture Commission, 18 civilians were injured because of the bombing of the family home. Palestine Now further reported that more than 15 children were injured in the alleged Israeli bombing.

Shehab Agency reported that two of the victims killed were pulled from the rubble.

In a series of images posted by Palestine Now and the photographer, Amr Tabash, at least ten different children can be seen arriving and being treated at Nasser Hospital, many of them carried in, some crying and others limp.

Amr Tabash also posted a video of Malik Hisham al-Zinati’s body arriving at Nasser Hospital in an ambulance, he can be seen wrapped in a blanket and being held by a paramedic.

Images from the burials of the victims were also shared by Amr Tabash, their family members gathered around their shrouded bodies, weeping. Multiple victims had their faces uncovered as their family members said their final goodbyes.

Following the incident, friends and family shared their farewells for those who were killed in the incident. In a Facebook post dedicated to Hisham Musa Al-Zainat, Ahmed Al-Sini stated, “You are a person with a kind, clean and respectful heart. You and your son Malik and all your family are in Paradise. God Almighty, I love you, I love you, I love you.” Ahmed Al-Sini also posted images of himself and Hisham together and an image of Hisham with his son Malik. Prayers were shared on Facebook by Ahmed Al-Zinti, who named each of those killed and asked: “God to forgive them, have mercy on them, and place them in His spacious gardens”.

Khaled and Musa’s uncle, Ebrahim Zeyad, shared images of the young brothers from when they were alive, calling them “beloved of your uncle’s heart” and asking others to pray for their mother, his sister Noor al-Madhoun.

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 a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli Military.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Hisham Musa Al-Zinati هشام موسى الزيناتي
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803581800
Malik Hisham Al-Zinati مالك هشام الزيناتي
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 443259197
Khaled Ahmed Al-Zinati خالد احمد الزيناتي
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441266806
Musa Ahmed Al-Zinati موسى احمد الزيناتي
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445668882
Ahmad Musa Al-Zinati أحمد موسى الزيناتي
Adult male injured
Noor al-Madhoun
Adult female injured
Wife of Hisham Al-Zinati زوجة هشام الزيناتي
Adult female injured
Kareem Musa Al-Zinati كريم موسى الزيناتي
killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18–19
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (29) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Ahmed Al-Sini
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al-Sini
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al-Sini
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Al-Sini
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Nana Khalil
  • 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18–19
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]