On Sunday, October 23, 2023, at least six civilians were killed, including four women, in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Al-Astal family home near Al-Majmaa Street close to the park in the centre of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. The strike also reportedly injured “a number” of others. The exact number of injuries is unknown.

62-year-old Ibrahim Hamid Hussein al-Astal was killed alongside his wife, 60-year-old Nadia Yassin Hussein al-Astal and his two daughters, 24-year-old Ibtihal Ibrahim Hamid al-Astal and 33-year-old Afnan Ibrahim Hamid al-Astal. The sister-in-law of Ibrahim, 59-year-old Hanaa Ibrahim Naim al-Astal al-Bazza (wife of Dr. Ali Hamid Hussein Al-Astal “Abu Khaled”) and her son, 28-year-old Majid Ali Hamid Hussein al-Astal were also among those killed.

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Hamid Hussein Al-Astal was the President of the Islamic University of Gaza, South Branch, and the Dean of the College of Education. He was remembered, in a Facebook post by Alaa Astal, as having a “beautiful face [that] will remain engraved in my memory.” Like Ibrahim, Afnan Ibrahim Hamid al-Astal was engaged in the medical profession, working as a pharmacist. The Palestine Academy of Science and Technology also posted a memorial, remembering Ibrahim for his rigor: he was one of the interview committee members for the Palestinian Quebec Science Bridge.

Ibrahim’s daughter Ibtihal was a final-year student with dreams of becoming a doctor. She was remembered as “ambitious, smart and hardworking” and hoped to throw a graduation party after completing her studies. A lover of coffee and mint tea, Ibtihal had gotten engaged two months before her death, and was eagerly awaiting wearing her white wedding dress. Alaa a. al-Aqad, Ibtihal’s fiancé, remembered her as his “rose and […] pulse.” She was, he wrote, “the source of my heart.”

Three months after the strike, Alaa a. al-Aqad again posted about the loss. Writing on January 20th, 2024, Alaa remembered Dr. Ibrahim on his birthday: “On the date of your birth, my uncle, we wished that you would have been with us, a thousand lights of mercy upon you.” The loss, Alaa wrote, was difficult to comprehend: “I Swear to god, parting with you is difficult.”

A video shared by Said el Haji showed Dr. Raed al-Asta, a family member, receiving a phone call where he would learn of the death of his family.

Multiple photographs were attached to memorial posts. Many showed Ibrahim in academic regalia. In an image posted by journalist Abdel Rahman al-Ebadale, Majid Ali Hamid Hussein al-Astal, photographed after his death, can be seen holding the Quran in his hands.

Photographs showed the destruction in the wake of the strike. Wafaa Alastal included an image of a building in ruins, corroborated by Fedaa Khalil, who included an image which showed the destruction from the street level. A video, shared by Al Arabiya Palestine, showed the inside destruction.

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

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