Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0507

Incident date

October 23, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة سويلم في حي الفالوجا شمال قطاع غزة, Sweilem family residence in the Al Faluga neighborhood, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.535596, 34.488280 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple members of the Sweilem family were reportedly killed after an alleged Israeli airstrike hit their home in the Al Faluga neighborhood of the Northern Gaza Strip on 23 October, 2023. Initially reported by Safa Press Service at 11:58 PM, the strike resulted in at least nine deaths, including four women and two children.

83-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad ‘Awadallah Sweilem was killed with his wife, Fayqa Sweilem (age unknown). Their 51-year-old daughter-in-law, Suzan Sweilem Ismail, was killed along with her three children: 11-year-old Murad Ahmed Sweilem, and Muhannad Ahmed Sweilem and Marwa Ahmed Sweilem, who were both 23. Mahmoud and Fayqa’s other grandchildren, 22-year-old Amir Munther Sweilem, 18-year-old Ahlam Munther Sweilem, and 16-year-old Islam Munther Sweilem, were also reported killed.

Friends and family posted condolence messages on social media, grieving those killed. Mahmoud was remembered as a “Hajj,” and his wife Fayqa as “Hajja,” suggesting that they had both completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Fayqa was described as “generous” and Mahmoud as “kind and compassionate” by Facebook user Haneen Nofal. Relative Nisreen Nofal, posting on Facebook, wrote that the family’s “hearts cannot bear [the] loss.”

Hayaa Thabet remembered Suzan as a mother figure and teacher, and mourned her loss: “As usual, you choose everything exceptional and unique, and now you have chosen heaven.” Suzan was referenced as a “professor” in a post by Mahmoud Nofal. According to user Haneen Nofal, Suzan’s life “was a blessing.”

Two photographs shared by Haneen show a smiling Amir, and a young woman–likely  Ahlem–clothed in graduation robes.

Pictures posted by Al-sharq Palestine showed the destruction resulting from the alleged strike, documenting the complete collapse of the building.

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 the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.

The incident occured at approximately 11:58 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Mahmoud Muhammad 'Awadallah Sweilem محمود سويلم
83 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 956243414
Fayqa Sweilem فايقة سويلم
Adult female killed
Suzan Sweilem Ismail سوزان سويلم إسماعيل
51 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 914562715
Murad Ahmed Sweilem مراد احمد سويلم
11 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735
Muhannad Ahmed Sweilem مهند احمد سويلم
23 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735
Marwa Ahmed Sweilem مروة احمد سويلم
23 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735
Amir Munther Sweilem امير منذر سويلم
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735
Ahlam Munther Sweilem احلام منذر سويلم
18 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735
Islam Munther Sweilem اسلام منذر سويلم
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406096735

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Al Faluga neighborhood (حي الفالوجا) in the Jabalia refugee camp (مخيم جباليا). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.535596, 34.488280.

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  • Imagery:
    Al-sharq palestine

  • Imagery:
    Al-sharq palestine

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (2 children4 women3 men)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-sharq palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-sharq palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-sharq palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-sharq palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

  • 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 infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (2 children4 women3 men)
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]