Conflict

Israel and Gaza

Incident Code

ISPT0461

Location

بيت لاهيا, Beit Lahia, North Gaza, Palestinian territories

Geolocation

31.551277, 34.509233
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

Shortly before 10:36 PM on Sunday, October 22nd 2023, the Al-Ghandour family’s house in Beit Lahia, near the Abu Ubaida Center, in the north of the Gaza Strip, was allegedly hit by Israeli aircraft bombing, resulting in at least 18 and potentially more than 25 deaths, including at least four women and at least five children. Sources referred to a large number of others also injured in the strike, though exact figures were not found.

Initially, Shehab Agency and the Gaza Interior Ministry reported about four people killed and a number of injuries. Later on, Muhammad Hazem Al-Masry wrote about a large number of injured, and Umm lol about “dozens of martyrs and wounded” as a result of the attack. Rafat Abu Alaa reported about 16 civilians killed, noting that the death toll may increase due to many remaining under the rubble. Activist Mohamed Yousif stated that more than 25 members of Al-Ghandour family were killed with some remaining under the rubble.

Among them, 18 members of the family who were killed were identified by Airwars based on social media testimonies by relatives and friends. A 60-year-old man named Muhammad Badr Fahd Al-Ghandour (also known as Abu Badr) and his wife, 56-year-old Maryam Ahmed Al-Ghandour (Al-Halabi) were killed alongside their eight sons, daughter, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.

Their sons who were killed were identified as 30-year-old Fahd Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, 22-year-old Omar Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, 20-year-old Youssef Muhammed Badr Al-Ghandour and 18-year-old Muhammad Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour. Three other sons of theirs were also killed: Hamza Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour,  39-year-old Badr Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, and 37-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour.

Their newly-wed son, Mustafa Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, and his wife, 22-year-old Ahlam Muhammad Salim Al-Ghandour (Farhat), were killed.

Muhammed and Maryam’s 9-year-old daughter, Nisma Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, was killed alongside her nieces and nephews. They were identified as Mahmoud’s four children: his daughters, 12-year-old Maryam Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour and Maria Mahmoud Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour, who was described as a child, and his sons, 14-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour and 13-year-old Qusay Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour.

Two other family members, a 40-year-old man named Shehada Badr Fahd Al-Ghandour and a 38-year-old female relative called Tawfiqa Muhammad Salim Al-Ghandour were also killed.

Family members and friends of the Al-Ghandour made heartfelt tributes and described their grief. Multiple sources described victims remaining buried under the rubble but didn’t identify the number of victims or their names.

One relative of the family, Ahmed Sardah, in a post on Facebook, expressed his distress and pleaded for anyone who lived near the Al-Ghandour family in Beit Lahia or the area of the Indonesian Hospital to check on them and reassure him.

Where the sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

The names of fifteen victims have been reconciled with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities published on October 26, 2023.

Victims

Family members (18)

Muhammad Badr Fahd Al-Ghandour محمد بدر الغندور
60 years old killed Matched to MoH ID 911985737
Maryam Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ghandour (Al-Halabi) مريم احمد الغندور
56 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 909522427
Mustafa Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour مصطفى محمد بدر الغندور
male killed
Ahlam Muhammad Salim Al-Ghandour حلام محمد سليم الغندور
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408376549
Youssef Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour يوسف محمد بدر الغندور
20 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408768794
Omar Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour عمر محمد بدر الغندور
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407047075
Hamza Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour حمزة محمد بدر الغندور
male killed
Nisma Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour نسمة محمد بدر الغندور
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434022703
Badr Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour بدر محمد بدر الغندور
39 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800305062
Fahd Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour فهد محمد بدر الغندور
30 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 804581247
Muhammad Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour محمد محمد بدر الغندور
18 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421397001
Mahmoud Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour محمود محمد بدر الغندور
37 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800629727
Muhammad Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour محمد محمود محمد الغندور
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429124571
Qusay Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour قصي محمود محمد الغندور
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429953078
Maryam Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Ghandour مريم محمود محمد الغندور
12 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 800629727
Maria Mahmoud Muhammad Badr Al-Ghandour ماريا محمود محمد بدر الغندور
Child female
Tawfiqa Muhammad Salim Al-Ghandour, توفيقة محمد سليم الغندور
38 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 801541194
Shehada Badr Fahd Al-Ghandour شحادة بدر فهد الغندور
40 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800308397

Key Information

Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
18–26
5–7 Children, 4 Women, 8–10 Men
Civilians reported injured
12–24

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Beit Lahia (بيت لاهيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.551277, 34.509233. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Israeli Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Israeli Military
Israeli Military position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (24)