Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0591

Incident date

October 25, 2023

Location

دوار أبو رصاص في مخيم البريج, Vicinity of Abu Rasas roundabout, Al Bureij refugee camp, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.438485, 34.402320 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday, October 25th 2023 an alleged Israeli aircraft bombed the home of the al-Mabhoub Family, killing at least four Palestinian children, including Siwar Ibrahim al-Mabhouh, aged five, and her brother Baraa Ibrahim al-Mabhouh, aged 14, and injuring dozens of others. Though other casualties occurred, the names of these victims have not yet been made publicly available.

@refugeesps and the Palestinian news agency Safa reported that the strike resulted in injuries, while a Facebook user named Khamis reported in a post that there were dozens of injuries relating to the incident.

The home, located near the Abu Rasas roundabout in the al-Bureij refugee camp, east of the Salah al-Din Road, central Gaza Strip, was reported to be completely destroyed by the airstrike, reduced to piles of rubble.

The same day, an uncle of Siwar and Baraa Ibrahim Al-Mabhouh, who goes by Mahmoudmod online, posted on Facebook, mourning the loss of his brother’s children. He added two pictures of the children to his post, each smiling at the camera, dressed in elegant clothing as if they were going to a celebration. In one picture Siwar has her hair done and is wearing a traditional black and red embroidered thobe dress. In the other picture, Baraa wears a tailored blue double breasted suit and is smiling proudly at the camera.

Facebook user ‘Abeer’ posted an update that “two martyrs” arrived at the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following the bombing of the Al-Mabouh family home.

@maryam_with_you posted on Twitter/X two videos showing the destruction of the Al-Mabouh family home by “several missiles.” One video showed a man searching through rubble with his bare hands with a caption reporting that Palestinian civilians and members of the community attempted to “rescue a young Palestinian man from under the rubble of his house.”

A second video showed a civil defense member carrying a very young child, dusty and limp in his arms, away from the rubble. It is not clear if the child was killed or injured.

A Facebook user named Mohammed Sabah Abu Hamza posted a graphic video showing the bodies of four young children and one young man. The caption reported that the victims had been killed in the strike on the Al-Mabouh family home. Airwars has given a minimum estimate of five casualties, including four children, as a result of this video. It is possible however that the young man is 14-year old Baraa.

Another Facebook user named Nasser Rahma reported the death of Baraa Ibrahim Al-Mabouh alongside his two young sisters.

Facebook user Khamis further posted a video depicting the destruction of the Al-Mabhouh’s house, which has been reduced to rubble. Civilians are gathered in the street around the site of the incident and others can be seen attempting to free the injured trapped under the rubble. A number of children walk away from the destruction covered in a thick layer of dust. The video shows a fire engine on the street near the site of the incident.

Airwars has matched the names of both named victims with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Israeli forces.

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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Baraa Ibrahim al-Mabhouh براء إبراهيم المبحوح
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429046972
Sister of Baraa Ibrahim al-Mabhouh
Child female killed
Siwar Ibrahim al-Mabhouh سوار إبراهيم المبحوح
5 years old female Matched to MoH ID 438576910

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the vicinity of the Abu Rasas roundabout (دوار أبو رصاص) in the Al Bureij refugee camp (مخيم البريج). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.438485, 34.402320.

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  • Imagery:
    Khamis

  • Imagery:
    Khamis

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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: Mahmoudmoh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Hanadymoh1992
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hanadymoh1992
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • 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
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4–5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]