Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0487

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

بلوك 4 ,البريج , Block 4, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.437934, 34.403857 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the early morning of Sunday October 22nd 2023, at least 11 civilians – including at least one woman and seven children – were killed after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the family home of Fayek Muhammad Awadallah and Nasser Muhammed Awadallah in Block 4 of the Bureij Camp, in the Gaza Strip.

53-year old Asmahan Mahmoud was killed with her four sons: 25-year old Abdel Fattah Nasser Mahmoud, 17-year old Mushir Nasser Mahmoud, and two 15-year olds, Mishal Nasser Mahmoud and Jamil Nasser Mahmoud.

Four siblings were also killed in the strike: 14-year old Radwa Fayek Mahmoud and her sister, 12-year old Fatima Fayek Mahmoud, and their two brothers, 10-year old Ahmed Fayek Mahmoud and 4-year old Osama Fayek Mahmoud.

Two others, Amani Mahmoud and Asmar Mahmoud, whose ages are not known, were also killed.

Mourners took to social media with prayers and condolences. Facebook user Youssef Talal Awadallah wished that the family would be ushered “to the gardens of eternity.” Similarly, relative Maher Mahmoud asked that God “grant them the highest paradise with the prophets” while acknowledging that in their absence, “the heart will grieve.”

Abdel Fattah was highly engaged with the Kawkaba Town Youth Association and was an administrator on their Facebook page. After his death, the group mourned his loss, claiming that the family was “still under the rubble.”

The Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council Facebook group posted a sensitive video showing numerous bodies covered by shrouds; an older man is comforted by onlookers as he cries and prays aloud.

Samah Ibrahim Mahmoud similarly included an image of a woman crying over four body bags, two clearly blood-stained.

A Facebook group posting under the moniker “The bridge brings us together” posted a farewell to “the last of his family to depart… a dear colleague Abdel Fattah Nasser Mahmoud”. The accompanying image shows a young man with his arms crossed, smiling into the camera. Facebook user “Esmat.omar” included an image of the consequent property damage, showing immense destruction and personal belongings mixed throughout the rubble.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. According to Rose Zaro, the strike occurred without warning.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023

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 around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (11)

Asmahan Mahmoud اسمهان محمود
53 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 910429588
Abdel Fattah Nasser Mahmoud عبد الفتاح ناصر محمود
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 403739766
Mushir Nasser Mahmoud مشير ناصر محمود
17 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 408949618
Mishal Nasser Mahmoud مشعل ناصر محمود
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426313896
Jamil Nasser Mahmoud جميل ناصر محمود
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426368734
Ahmed Fayek Mahmoud احمد فايق محمود
10 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430612259
Osama Fayek Mahmoud اسامة فايق محمود
4 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441237153
Radwa Fayek Mahmoud رضوى فايق محمود
14 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 423943240
Fatima Fayek Mahmoud فاطمة فايق محمود
12 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 431303999
Amani Mahmoud اماني محمود
killed
Asmaa Mahmoud اسماء محمود
killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Block 4, allegedly located within Al Bureij (مخيم البريج) camp. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Bureij are: 31.437934, 34.403857.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (7 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Al.burij.new
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkaba Al-Bazat Village Families Council
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef Talal Awadallah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef Talal Awadallah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: The bridge brings us together
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Samah Ibrahim Mahmoud
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Samsom Ibrahim
  • 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
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • (7 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]