On 28th October 2023 at least 26 members of the Samara family – spanning at least three generations and including at least 7 women and 14 children – were reportedly killed and a number of others injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike hit a house/building belonging to the Samara Family in the Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza. The incident reportedly occurred at dawn.

At 5.33PM Palestine Dialogue Network and Gaza News Now posted an urgent alert on X/Twitter reporting a number of deaths and injuries due to an airstrike that hit the Samara family’s house in the Shujaiya neighborhood. The following day Facebook users shared a video depicting the destruction in the Shujaiya neighborhood. The video shows a completely decimated area now covered in rubble and debris from collapsed multi-storey buildings. The comment read, “The Mashtaha station was destroyed, and the Sheikh Sobhi Samara building was destroyed. The bombing claimed the lives of 32 martyrs, and there are dozens still under the rubble of homes.”

Condolence messages shared by family and friends on social media helped Airwars researchers identify a total of 26 victims.

Facebook user Haneen Samara mourned the death of his family in a post that read, “my mind still can’t comprehend the event and the number of martyrs, nor the idea that I am in the same city and unable to go and say goodbye to them.” He identified 10 members of his family killed in the strike: 73-year-old Sheikh Sobhi Samara and his wife Intisar Samara, their daughters Wa’ad Sobhi Samara, 36-year-old Wissam Sobhi Samara, and 38-year-old Wala’a Sobhi Samara (Abu Nemah), and sons Mohammed Sobhi Samara, and 35-year-old Moayad Sobhi Samara.  Mohammed’s wife, 37-year-old Azza Mushtaha (Samara) and Moayad’s wife, 29-year-old Samah Samara, along with Walaa’s husband, 45-year-old Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah, and Ahmed and Wala’a’s five children were also killed.

Facebook user Ahmed Walis Alijla identified Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah, the husband of Wala’a Samara as a Judge. He is described as “the owner of the kind heart” and “our teacher.” In a selfie, shared alongside the post, he is depicted as a middle aged man wearing a white shirt and polka dot black and white tie. He and Wala’a were killed along with their five children who have not yet been identified. Based on matches with the Ministry of Health list using familial names, four of Ahmed and Wala’a’s children who were killed were likely 13-year-old Reman Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah, 2-year-old Bilsan Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah, 18-year-old Raneem Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah, and 15-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Fawzi Abu Nemah.

In a post on Facebook, the Directorate of Education mourned the death of Azza Mushtaha, describing her as a “virtuous educator” from Al-Fallujah Secondary School for Girls. Along with her husband Mohammed, Azza was killed with her father Jihad Nayef Mushtaha and her five children who have not yet been identified. Um Ubaida posted a condolence message to her sister Salma Jamal Mushtaha for the death of her daughter Azza and Azza’s in-laws. Based on matches with the Ministry of Health list using familial names, four of Azza and Mohammed’s children who were killed were likely 3-year-old Intisar Mohammed Sobhi Samara, 11-year-old Aisha Mohammed Sobhi Samara, 5 month old Sondos Mohammed Sobhi Samara, and 9-year-old Tasnim Mohammed Sobhi Samara.

According to Facebook User Amir Hamada, Moayad Sobhi Samara (Sobhi Samara’s other son) was the librarian of Gamal Abdel Nasser Secondary School for Boys. The post described him as a “role model” and a “dear teacher.” In a photo shared alongside the Facebook post he is depicted wearing a dark pink shirt smiling in front of the school logo. In a Facebook post, Mojahed Samara mourned the death of Moayad and his wife Samah Samara, as well as their four daughters, identified as 12-year-old Jana Moayad Samara, 10-year-old Hala Moayad Samara, 7-year-old Judy Moayad Samara, 1-year-old Saja Moayad Samara and their son 4-year-old Mohammed Moayad Samara.

Multiple sources reported that “injuries” resulted from the bombing but none specified the exact number.

Where sources identified who was responsible, all sources blamed the Israeli military for carrying out the strike.

The incident occured around dawn.