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