Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0635

Incident date

October 26, 2023

Location

عائلة الهور في مخيم النصيرات, Al-Hour family home, next to Ahly Al-Nuseirat Club, Al Nuseirat Camp, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, October 26th 2023, at least 35 people were reportedly killed and a number of others wounded in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the home of the al-Hour family, at the entrance to 35th Street in Al-Zabt, near to Ahly Al-Nuseirat Club in the Al-Nuseirat Camp, in northern Gaza.

Ziyad Hussein Shaker al-Hour and his wife, Samiha Abu Zeid were reportedly killed alongside their children and grandchildren.

Their son, 36-year-old Muhammad Ziyad Hussein al-Hour (Abu Ziyad) was killed with his wife 33-year-old Mervat Hisham Ahmed Maghazi and their three children, who were not named by sources. Airwars has identified the names of three children on the Ministry of Health list of fatalities who are likely Muhammed and Mervat’s children.

Ziyad and Samiha’s other son, 29-year-old Tariq Ziyad Hussein al-Hour also reportedly died in the attack with his wife, 23-year-old Haya Hani Hussein Al-Hour and their two-year-old daughter, Lana Tariq Ziyad al-Hour. Additionally, Ziyad and Samiha’s two daughters, 21-year-old Heba Ziyad Hussein al-Hour and 37-year-old Iman Ziyad Hussein al-Hour (Shaheen) were reportedly killed, as were Iman’s children. It is unclear how many children Iman had, and how many were killed, with sources referring only to ‘children’ in the plural.

Other members of the extended al-Hour family were also killed. The owners of the house that was destroyed in the alleged strike, husband and wife, 59-year-old Abdul Rahman Hussein Shaker al-Hour and Umm Bilal were reportedly killed. According to multiple sources and posts from family and friends, Abdul Rahman was a doctor.

Their two sons, teenager Yazan Abdul Rahman al-Hour and 33-year-old Bilal Abdul Rahman Huseein al-Hour were also reportedly killed alongside Bilal’s wife, 29-year-old Nisreen Saeed Abdel Majeed al-Hour (al-Banna) and four children of Bilal and Nisreen, who were not named by sources. Airwars has identified the names of four girls on the Ministry of Health list of fatalities who are likely the children of Bilal and Nisreen based on their ages and surname matches.

34-year-old Tahani Abdel Rahman Hussein al-Hour (Shana), a daughter of Dr. Abdul Rahman, was reportedly killed as a result of the alleged attack, alongside her daughter 11-year-old Rehab Mahmoud Muhammad Shana and three sons, ten-year-old Abdullah Mahmoud Muhammad Shana, eight-year-old Osama Mahmoud Muhammad Shana and three-year-old Suhaib Mahmoud Muhammad Shana. A Facebook post from Al Hattab Ahmed mourned the loss of Tahani, and posted a photo showing her four young children. Her husband Mahmoud Muhammed Shana was not killed in the incident. Family and friends expressed their condolences to him on the loss of his entire family.

Baraa Al-Hour’s wife and children also reportedly died in the alleged Israeli airstrike; it is unclear how many children died. Airwars has identified the names of two children who are likely Baraa al-Hour’s children. This brought the minimum number of reported deaths as a result of the incident to a minimum of 35.

Friends took to social media to grieve members of the al-Hour family. Tariq was remembered as a keen football player, and friends prayed that he would ascend “to the heaven of eternity.” Relative Hussam al-Hour posted a picture of Tariq with a football, and described him as “beloved.” Fayez Mohareb, also on Facebook, emphasized Tariq’s love of football, sharing a photograph of a smiling Tariq at a football game, being hoisted into the air in celebration by his fellow teammates. In multiple photographs, Tariq is wearing the University of Palestine’s football uniform.

Haya and Tariq were mourned by Haya’s sister, Ruba Hany. Ruba’s “first companion,” Haya was remembered as “her mother’s darling,” while Ruba grieved “caring, smiling, generous” Tariq. Their daughter Lana, Ruba remembered, was the family’s “angel.”

The cousin of Bilal, Asif Al-Hor, posted multiple photos to Facebook of the family members he had reportedly lost in this alleged attack. With their death, Asif posted that he “lost the most precious thing [he] had.” Bilal, Asif wrote, was “not only my cousin, but my brother, my friend, my companion, and my support in adversity.”

Sources varied in their reporting on the number killed in the attack, but this is likely due to the fact that it took some time to recover bodies from the rubble and account for all those killed. This is supported by a Facebook post from Al Hattab Ahmed, claiming that three days after the reported attack, bodies had yet to be recovered from the rubble: “To date, no bodies have been recovered, including the children.”

Shehab News originally reported that five people were killed in the attack, with Alkofiya News later reporting that 18 people had been killed. However, a Facebook post from Saleh.e.eltaweel reported that more than 30 people were killed in the attack, alongside a photo of the multi storey home completely collapsed.

Twitter/X user Hakeam_ps posted that the four storey home had reportedly been housing a number of displaced peoples at the time of the attack, likely accounting for the high death toll.

It is unclear exactly how many people were injured as a result of the alleged attack, but  Twitter/X user Meqdad Jameel (@Almeqdad) alleged that “a number” of injured had been taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in the aftermath of the attack. The injured arrived, he claimed, with the “body parts” of the deceased.

In the following days, multiple photos were posted of the funeral gathering for those reportedly killed in this attack. A Facebook post from Nuseirat1 showing many people gathered in front of a high number of shrouded bodies. A video shared on Facebook by Al Jazeera Palestine shows mourners clutching the body bags and crying over the remains.

Where possible, names have been reconciled with published Palestinian Ministry of Health lists produced after October 26th and before July 2024. With thanks to journalist Alexandre Horn from CheckNews for identifying relevant sources during this period, and Data Tech for Palestine for centralising the datasets.

Airwars identified the names of nine children who were likely killed in this incident and are possible matches to Bilal and Nisreen’s children, Muhammed and Merfat’s children and Baraa Al-Hour’s children.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (34)

Ziyad Hussein Shaker Al-Hour زياد حسين شاكر الهور
61 years old male Grandfather killed Matched to MoH ID 972480255
Samiha Abdullah Salem Al-Hour سميحه عبدالله سالم الهور
58 years old female Grandmother killed Matched to MoH ID 906240445
Tariq Ziyad Hussein Al-Hour طارق زياد حسين الهور
29 years old male Son of Ziyad and Samiha killed Matched to MoH ID 400551560
Haya Hani Hussein Al-Hour هيا هاني حسين الهور
23 years old female Wife of Tariq killed Matched to MoH ID 406024042
Lana Tariq Ziyad Al-Hour لانا طارق زياد الهور
2 years old female Daughter of Tariq and Haya killed Matched to MoH ID 445446909
Muhammad Ziyad Hussein Al-Hur محمد زياد حسين الهور
36 years old male Son of Ziyad and Samiha killed Matched to MoH ID 801842253
Mervat Hisham Ahmed Al-Maghazi مرفت هشام أحمد المغاري
33 years old female Wife of Muhammed killed Matched to MoH ID 803205335
Child of Muhammed and Merfat طفل محمد ومرفت
Child killed
Child of Muhammed and Merfat طفل محمد ومرفت
Child killed
Child of Muhammed and Merfat طفل محمد ومرفت
Child killed
Heba Ziyad Hussein Al-Hour هبه زياد حسين الهور
21 years old female Daughter of Ziyad and Samiha killed Matched to MoH ID 409263340
Iman Ziad Hussein al-Hour Shaheen ايمان زياد حسين شاهين
37 years old female Daughter of Ziyad and Samiha killed Matched to MoH ID 800692576
Iman's Child طفل إيمان
Child killed
Iman's Child طفل إيمان
Child killed
Abdul Rahman Hussein Shaker Al-Hour عبد الرحمن حسين شاكر الهور
59 years old male Brother of Ziyad Hussein and grandfather killed Matched to MoH ID 972480263
Umm Bilal أم بلال
Adult female Wife of Abdul Rahman killed
Yazan Abdul Rahman Al-Hour يزن عبد الرحمن الهور
Age unknown male Son of Abdul Rahman and Umm Bilal killed
Bilal Abdul Rahman Hussein Al-Hour بلال عبد الرحمن حسين الهور
33 years old female Son of Abdul Rahman and Umm Bilal killed Matched to MoH ID 802921056
Nisreen Saeed Abdel Majeed Al-Hour (al-Banna) نسرين سعيد عبد المجيد الهور
29 years old female Wife of Bilal killed Matched to MoH ID 400691598
Daughter of Bilal and Nisreen أبنة بلال ونسرين
Child female killed
Daughter of Bilal and Nisreen أبنة بلال ونسرين
Child female killed
Daughter of Bilal and Nisreen أبنة بلال ونسرين
Child female killed
Daughter of Bilal and Nisreen أبنة بلال ونسرين
Child female killed
Tahani Abdul Rahman Hussein Shanaa تهاني عبد الرحمن حسين شناعه
34 years old female Daughter of Abdul Rahman and Umm Bilal killed Matched to MoH ID 802485292
Rehab Mahmoud Muhammad Shanaa رحاب محمود محمد شناعه
11 years old female Daughter of Tahani killed Matched to MoH ID 433377751
Abdullah Mahmoud Muhammad Shanaa عبد الله محمود محمد شناعه
10 years old male Son of Tahani killed Matched to MoH ID 433846508
Osama Mahmoud Muhammad Shanaa أسامة محمود محمد شناعه
8 years old male Son of Tahani killed Matched to MoH ID 437118763
Suhaib Mahmoud Muhammad Shanaa صهيب محمود محمد شناعه
3 years old male Son of Tahani killed Matched to MoH ID 443149570
Baraa Al-Hour’s wife زوجة براء الهور
Adult female killed
Child of Baraa Al-Hour طفل براء الهور
Child killed
Child of Baraa Al-Hour طفل براء الهور
Child killed
Islam Jamal Hassan Al-Saidi اسلام جمال حسن الصعيدي
32 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803555705
Child of Islam طفل الإسلام
Child killed
Child of Islam طفل الإسلام
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    35
  • (19–20 children10 women5–6 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (45) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (41) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Hamzaalnamla1
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @abdelrahman1010
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Hussam Al Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Nuseirat103
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mahmoud Al-Buhaisi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fayezmohareb76
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nuseirat103
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asif Al-Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussam Al Hor
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhaib Al-Hur
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhaib Al-Hur
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhaib Al-Hur
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhaib Al-Hur
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suhaib Al-Hur
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed.mohmeed.9
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed.mohmeed.9
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Fajer.ahmed.3192
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nuseirat1
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saleh.a.eltaweel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saleh.a.eltaweel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saleh.a.eltaweel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saleh.a.eltaweel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Hattab Ahmed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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  • 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
    35
  • (19–20 children10 women5–6 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (45) [ collapse]