Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0519

Incident date

October 23, 2023

Location

منزلا لعائلة الأسطل قرب شارع المجمع قرب المنتزه في وسط خان يونس, A house for the Al-Astal family near Al-Majmaa Street near the park in the centre of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ibrahim Hamid Hussein Al-Astal إبراهيم حامد حسين الأسطل
62 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 955256672
Nadia Yassin Hussein Al-Astal نادية ياسين حسين الأسطل
60 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901959221
Ibtihal Ibrahim Hamid Al-Astal إبتهال إبراهيم حامد الأسطل
24 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 410944391
Afnan Ibrahim Hamid Al-Astal أفنان إبراهيم حامد الأسطل
33 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803143031
Hanaa Ibrahim Naim Al-Astal Al-Bazza هناء إبراهيم نعيم الأسطل البزة
59 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 926056078
Majid Ali Hamid Hussein Al-Astal ماجد علي حامد حسين الأسطل
28 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 410578942

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 women2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education,Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (71) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sufyan Al-Iqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sufyan Al-Iqad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jasmin masalha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alaa astal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Salahaldin abuabdou
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kholoud naeem al-astal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: D. ismail mohammad al-ghamri
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdallah al-astal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Dalia farra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestine Academy For Science and Technology
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Wafaa alastal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khanyunis city
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Khanyounis city
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Journalist abdelrahman al-ebadale
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Noor ma
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rantisi nadal
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Alaa a. Alaqad
  • 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (4 women2 men1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education,Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (71) [ collapse]