Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0483

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

بيت لاهيا, Beit Lahia, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.551277, 34.509233 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were reportedly killed and a number of others were wounded in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Kurd family home in the Beit Lahia area of the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday 22nd October 2023.

The Palestinian Press Agency (SAFA), citing the Gazan Ministry of the Interior, reported that a minimum of two people had been killed alongside “a number of wounded”. Meanwhile, Ahmad Assaf estimated a larger death toll, posting on Facebook that the strike had resulted in “a large number of martyrs and wounded.” He alleged that “the house was crowded at the moment of the bombing,” which could explain a potentially larger figure. Airwars has kept the range to two civilian deaths as no more exact figures were reported, though will update this incident should further information come to light.

Maher al-Hijazi claimed that the strike had occurred “without warning” and posted a video on Facebook showing volunteers carrying casualties into an ambulance. It is unclear whether those carried were killed or wounded.

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

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 afternoon.

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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]