Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0854

Incident date

November 3, 2023

Location

منزل لعائلة أبو عمر في بلدة بني سهيلا شرقي خان يونس, Abu Omar family home in the town of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis, Gaza strip, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

Shortly before 17:00 on Friday, November 3rd, 2023, six members of the Abu Omar family, including at least three women, were killed, and a number of others injured, by an alleged Israeli airstrike on their family home, located near the cultural centre in the town Bani Suhalia, east of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.

Safa News was the first to report the incident at 17:05, writing about five civilians killed as a result of the attack. Though sources individually reported five deaths resulting from the strike, six names have been released in conjunction with the bombardment.

49-year-old woman Ismat Ahmed Hussein Abu Omar “Umm Muhammad” was killed alongside her children: a 19-year-old son, Abdallah Hamdan Suleiman Abu Omar, and daughters Manal Hamdan Suleiman Abu Omar and 32-year-old Amani Hamdan Suleiman Abu Saada (Abu Omar).  Amani’s husband, 36-year-old Dr. Ahmed Majed Abd Rabbo Abu Saada, was also killed, as was 65-year-old Rasmiya Salem Khalil Qudaih.

In a Facebook post, user “Al-Raqab family gathering” (تجمع عائلـة الرقب)”, seemingly a relative of the deceased offered their condolences asking “God Almighty to have mercy on them and to grant them a place in His spacious gardens”. Another user, Amal Hadad, prayed that “God have mercy on them” and shared two photographs of Dr. Ahmed Abu Saada; one, an informal shot where Ahmed sports sunglasses and a blue shirt, and another of him smiling and suited at what appears to be a conference.

Facebook user “Qadih family in the homeland and abroad” (عائلة قديح في الوطن والشتات) mourned the loss of Rasmiya, clarifying that she was married to Mr. Nazim Qudaih Abu Suleiman, and writing that with her loss, there is “no power or strength except with God”.

According to Wafa News, the strike was conducted by Israeli forces, referred to as “the occupation”. Though sources mentioned “injuries”, none quantified how many had been wounded.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Since October 26, 2023, the MoH has released six lists, along with an additional list of medical professionals, which was released on September 17, 2024. Airwars matches individuals to the first list where their names appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the second ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list, which was released on January 7th, 2024.

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

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Rasmiya Salem Khalil Qudaih رسمية سالم خليل قديح
66 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 942091703
Ismat Ahmed Hussein Abu Omar عصمت أحمد حسين أبو عمر
49 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 934951757
Manal Hamdan Suleiman Abu Omar منال حمدان سليمان أبو عمر
female daughter of Ismat killed
Abdallah Hamdan Suleiman Abu Omar عبدالله حمدان سليمان أبو عمر
19 years old male son of Ismat killed Matched to MoH ID 409800869
Amani Hamdan Suleiman Abu Saada (Omar) أماني حمدان سليمان أبو عمر
32 years old female daughter of Ismat killed Matched to MoH ID 803107135
Ahmed Majed Abd Rabbo Abu Saada احمد ماجد عبد ربه أبو سعادة
36 years old male husband of Amani killed Matched to MoH ID 800793119

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (0–1 children3–4 women2 men)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Wafa news

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
    6
  • (0–1 children3–4 women2 men)
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]