On Friday, November 3, 2023, between seven and 10 people were killed in an alleged Israeli bombardment that hit the Beit Lahia cemetery during a funeral in the Northern Gaza Strip.

Ihab Salah Ayoub was killed alongside his brothers Hassan Salah Ayoub and Mohamed Salah Ayoub.

Multiple sources including @AJA_Palestine reported that the death toll of the bombing of the Beit Lahia cemetery had risen to seven while @AlarabyTV stated that the bodies of 10 of those killed had been transferred to hospitals in North Gaza.

Ibrahim Ayoub Ayoub, a cousin of the deceased, said that with their loss of the men had “broken [the family’s] hearts.” He posted photographs of the deceased, showing Mohamed sporting a red shirt, and Hassan with his arm around a young boy. Ahmed Azdid, a friend, posted a picture of Ihab cradling an infant, remembering him as his “lifelong companion.” Facebook user Fatma Ashraf clarified that Ihab “helps his father in his grandfather’s profession ‘digging graves’ as their family owns the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip.”

@GazaMartyrs posted about Ihab, remembering him as someone who “was known for his struggle since childhood. He constantly sought to assist his family through various professions, eventually working alongside his father in the grave digging profession.”

All those killed were reported to be “grave workers.” Twitter/X user @MayssounAzzam, quoting another, reiterated that though the men were killed, they were “alive in our hearts.” According to Facebook user Shady Mohamed Elghazawy, the strike occurred during a funeral.

@MayssounAzzam also included a photo showing the destruction of the cemetery in the wake of the strike, as did AnaJordan News. In both photographs, several graves appear highly damaged, with some destroyed.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all pointed to Israeli forces.