Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0648

Incident date

October 27, 2023

Location

منطقة معن، خان يونس, Ma’an area, Khan Younis, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.330536, 34.317053 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around dawn on Friday, October 27, 2023, the Abu Shahma family home in the Ma’an area, east of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, was hit by an alleged Israeli airstrike, resulting in at least five deaths, including three women, and several injuries.

28-year-old Magdy Tayseer Abu Shahma was killed alongside four-year-old Dahoud Tayseer Abu Shahma and 18-year-old Donia Tayseer Abu Shahma. 55-year-old Maqboula Abu Shahma was killed alongside her daughter Heba Farid Abu Shahma.

Family member Mohammed Abu Shahma also alleged Maqboula’s granddaughter Tala was killed. Her name was not corroborated elsewhere. The strike, he claimed, caused these six deaths, as well as “wounded and amputees.”

Family members and friends of the Abu Shahma family wrote heartfelt tributes on social media where they described their grief. Facebook user Tayseer Abu Shahma prayed for “mercy” for Magdy, and healing for an injured Amal, including a smiling picture of the women.

Multiple images shared of Magdy Tayseer Abu Shahma show him smiling in a navy blue shirt and posing in formal wear.

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

Where possible, names have been reconciled with published Palestinian Ministry of Health lists. With thanks to journalist Alexandre Horn from CheckNews for identifying relevant sources, and Data Tech for Palestine for centralising the datasets.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Maqboula Muhammad Muhammad Abu Shahma كجدي ياسر ابو شحمة
55 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 952237089
Heba Farid Ayesh Abu al-Qumsan هبا فريد ابو شحمة
Age unknown female killed
Tala Abu Shahma تالا ابو شحمة
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Magdy Tayseer Mahmoud Abu Shahma كجدي ياسر ابو شحمة
28 years old male killed
Dahoud Magdy Tayseer Abu Shahma داحود تيسير ابو شحمة
4 years old male killed
Donia Tayseer Mahmoud Abu Shahma دنيا تيسير ابو شحمة
18 years old female killed
Amal Abu Shahma أمل أبو شحمة
Age unknown female injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Ma’an (منطقة معن) in Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.330536, 34.317053. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2–4 women1 man)
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Arab Abu Rezik family facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Arab Abu Rezik family facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Rizik family facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tareq Ziad facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tayseer Abu Shahma facebook

  • 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2–4 women1 man)
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]