In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 18th 2023, at least 39 identified civilians, including 11 members of al-Ashqar family and eight members of al-Wardeh family, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the two houses in Jabalia al-Badad in the Northern Gaza Strip. Among the victims killed in the airstrike were at least six women and at least fourteen children. The number of injured is unknown, but at least one child was injured based on the available images shared on social media.

Photos of body bags and deceased and injured civilians have circulated on social media. Shehab Agency posted a picture of the funeral of al-Ashqar family members where eight bodies wrapped in white cloth, among them two children’s bodies, are to be seen.

Sources on social media helped to identify the names of the civilians that were killed in the strike belonging to different families.

al-Ashqar family

Within the al-Ashqar family, most of the victims were women and children. Muhammad Ahmed al-Ashqar (Abu Ahmed) was killed alongside his wife and son. Among the victims killed in the strike were also a 60-year-old woman, Hanan Muhammad al-Ashqar, and a 29-year old woman, Asma Ahmed Sabhi Tanbura, along with her daughter, 4-year-old Dhia Saeed Anan Tanboura. A 25-year old woman, Shaima Iyad Musa al-Ashqar, was also killed, as was a 16-year old girl, Israa Ahmed Subhi al-Ashqar, and a 7-year-old girl, Batoul Murad Ismail Yassin (al-Ashqar). The attack also took the lives of the two twin 3-year old boys, Yaman Muhammad al-Ashqar and Yamen Muhammad al-Ashqar.

Initially the post by Mohammed Zidan mentioned only eight names of the victims from al-Ashqar family, but the later testimonies contained three additional names.

Muhammad Ahmed al-Ashqar (Abu Ahmed) was remembered in a Facebok tribute by his friend Abu Hamza Hajo, sharing the images of the middle-aged man with a grey beard.

Abu Wardeh

Abu Wardeh family also has suffered significant losses consisting of mostly women and children. Among the killed family members were a 28-year-old man, Wassem Ahmed Hasan Abu Wardeh, a 28-year-old woman, Basma Ramadan Muhammma Abu Warda, an 11-year-old girl, Amal Muhammad Saleh Abu Wardeh, and four boys –  4-year-old Karam Wissam Ahmed Abu Wardeh,  2-year-old Ahmed Muhammad Saleh Abu Warda, 5-year-old Juma Muhammad Saleh Abu Wardeh, and 9-year-old Ayman Wissam Ahmad Abu Wardeh.

al-Tanani family

The al-Tanani family lost a 29-year-old man, Abdel Fattah Samir al-Tanani, along with his wife, 25-year-old Baraa Fayez Ibrahim al-Tanani, and a 24-year-old man, Abdul Rahman Samir al-Tanani. A son of Abdel and Baraa whose name is unknown was injured.

A brother of the late Abdel, Ahmed Tannan, wrote a heartfelt tribute to his relatives: “I mourn my brother, the joy of my heart, a piece of my heart, and the brother of my soul, my brother, companion, friend, and lover, Abdel Fattah al-Tanani, his wife Baraa Fayez al-Tanani, and my companion, lover, and friend, my cousin, Abdul Rahman al-Tanani.”

He attached the image of the two cousins, one of them in a Palestinian scarf.

Watan E Tanani and Ãhmad Ãbu Ãdham also mourned the death of the two cousins and posted their pictures. Osama Al-Tanani wrote: “Sorry, Abdel Fattah, yesterday was the last contact between you and me, and you were telling me that we were victorious and steadfast. This is what remains of your family, my friend”, attaching an image of their injured son with blood on his clothes and body.

al-Hassi family

Among the victims from al-Hassi family, social media sources mentioned Howaida Ahmed al-Hassi, Rizq Nimr al-Hassi, Haifa Rajab al-Hassi, Hatem Ahmed al-Hassi and Rajab Ahmed al-Hassi. Further details about their age and gender are unknown.

Gharib family

A young man Thaer Subhi Gharib was killed alongside his son, Ahmed Thaer Gharib. He was mentioned in a number of social media posts by his relatives and friends mourning his death.

Ahmed Aita Abu al-Joud posted the graphic image of the dead bodies of Thaer and his son Ahmed wrapped in a white cloth with traces of blood, writing that, “The precious Thaer Gharib is a martyr.” Thaer’s brother-in-law Muhammad Ibn Sheikh Ismail also posted on Facebook shocking photos of Thaer and Ahmed after their death and wrote a heartfelt tribute: “And do not think that those who were killed in the cause of God are dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, being provided for. My sister’s husband, Thaer Gharib, and my nephew, Ahmed Thaer Gharib”.

Abu Nedal Krezim shared his grief over the loss of his lifelong friend, colleague, and his “brother whom his mother did not give birth to” and posted his pictures where he was still alive and smiling, in front of a car with Palestinian flags in one the pictures. In one picture Thaer can be seen with his small smiling son Ahmed.

al-Kahlout family

48-year-old Shaker Marzouk Shaker al-Kahlout was killed alongside his wife, who remains unnamed, and their children: a 4-year-old boy, Adam Shaker Marzouk al-Kahlout, and an 11-year-old daughter Sarah Hassan Marzouk al-Kahlout. The death of this family was mourned in a Facebook post by Kenan who wrote that they were his neighbours and also shared an image of the late Shaker – a man in a red T-shirt taking a picture in nature.

al-Mutawq families

Mustafa Nour al-Mutawq was killed along with Muhammad Yusuf al-Mutawq. Mahmoud al-Kahlot dedicated a Facebook post to the “beloved” Muhammad Yusuf al-Mutawq, sharing an image of a young smiling bearded man in a suit. Muhammad was also remembered in the posts by Omar King and Muhammad Farah.

Other victims

Among the other victims listed in social media testimonies were Muhammad Abdullah Asalia, and a 24-year-old man, Zakaria Saeed Ahmed Sha’ban, as well as an 8-year old girl, Aya Nidal Akram Abu Laila.

Ahmed Asalia mourned the death of his brother Muhammad Asalia, sharing his image where a young man in a grey shirt can be seen and putting his grief into words:

“Those I love are gone

Those with whom the world is not sweet are gone

Those whom the heart adores are gone

Those who left the heart torn apart are gone.”

In another post, he shared an image of the dead Muhammad’s face covered with blood and dust.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. According to the post by Kenan, the attack happened without prior warning.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the morning.

Around 11:15 in the morning of Wednesday, 18th October 2023, Israeli forces allegedly conducted an airstrike on the Haboush family home located behind al-Shifa medical hospital near the Gaza port, in the north of the Gaza Strip, killing at least 32 identified members of the extended Haboush family, including at least nine women and at least 18 children. The strike reportedly killed up to 40 family members and injured dozens of them. Among the victims killed in the deadly strike were two mothers, each of whom was killed alongside her five children.

Initial reports by Shehab Agency and Safa News stated that between 12 and 18 members of the Haboush family were killed in the airstrike, with dozens more remaining missing under the rubble. Numerous images have been shared by Awdeh Channel and Facebook user Paradise, depicting the completely destroyed building and a rescue operation in search for those trapped under the rubble. Al Arabiya Palestine and Khabar24 shared heartbreaking videos showing the attempts to rescue people from the rubble. General Directorate of Military Medical Services shared images of the ambulance and emergency crews in dealing with the martyrs and injured where injured people on strechers can be seen.

A social media testimony by Haboush family on Facebook helped to identify 32 family members killed in the strike, sharing images of some of the victims.

A 66-year old grandfather of the Haboush family, Suleiman Naaman Rabah Haboush, and his 62-year old wife Ibtisam Arslan Salem Haboush were killled alongside their four sons and three daughters as well as grandchildren.

Heba Suleiman Haboush, a surviving daughter of Suleiman Haboush, said in a Facebook post in reference to her father:  “May God have mercy on you, dear. May God have mercy on you, Hanoun. I am proud to be your daughter. God bears witness that you have been the best father, husband, and brother. You gave everything to serve your religion and your country. Praise be to God for having the honor of being a martyr.” She also shared an image of an elderly man with a grey beard in a traditional Muslim attire.

Suleiman and Ibtisan’s eldest 33-year old son Musab Suleiman Naaman Haboush was killed along with his wife, a 30-year old  Lubna Ahmed Hamdi Haboush (Al-Naji), and their 8-year old son Suleiman Musab Suleiman Haboush. A younger son, a 29-year old Izz al-Din (Azzedine) Suleiman Naaman Haboush, was killed alongside his wife Makram Khalifa and their 2-year old son Zakaria Azzeddine Suleiman Haboush. Their other son Suleiman Ezz El-Din Haboush survived the attack and was injured.

The deadly strike also took the lives of a 20-year old son of Suleiman and Ibtisan, Abdul Rahman Suleiman Naaman Habous, their 16-year old son, Muhammad Suleiman Naaman Haboush, and their three daughters – 22-year old Sandus Suleiman Naamn Haboush, Islam Suleiman Haboush, and 27-year old Walaa Suleiman Naaman Haboush. Their grandchildren, a 7-year old girl, Sareen Naaman Suleiman Haboush, a girl, Malak and a boy, Alyan Al-Ashqar were also killed.

The late Islam Suleiman Haboush used to be a researcher, and Hala Khaled dedicated a Facebook tribute to her, sharing an image of woman in white burqa presenting in front of a notebook. Islam contributed to writing a book “Popular Resistance” published by Dar Al-Muqtasab.

The strike mostly took lives of women and children, including two mothers, each of whom was killed alongside her five children.

A 33-year old, Shaima Raed Mahmoud Haboush al-Amiri, was killed alongside her three sons: Osama Noman Suleiman Haboush (15), Suleiman Noman Suleiman  Haboush (13), and Ibrahim Noman Suleiman Haboush (10) as well as her two daughters, Maria Noman Suleiman Haboush (9) and Fatima Noman Suleiman Haboush (2).

One more mother,  Amina Ahmed Haboush al-Amri, was killed alongside her son Saleh Noman Haboush (8), and four daughters – Cyrine Noman Haboush, Ibtisam Noman Suleiman Haboush (3),  Bilsan Noman Haboush (2), and Marwa Noman Rabah Haboush.

The deadly airstrike took the lives of three young siblings, a 7-year old boy, Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Naeem Haboush, and his two sisters, a 15-year old Dima Mahmoud Naeem Haboush and a 10-year old Talin Mahmoud Naeem Haboush.

Last but not least, a 22-year old woman, Jennat Zaki Youssef Haboush, was mentioned among the killed victims.

According to the post by Heba Suleiman Haboush, the only survivor of the bombing of the house was the young boy Suleiman Ezz El-Din Haboush who can be seen on the attached image with a bandage covering his head and an injured eye. Heba also shared the heartbreaking videos showing the funeral of Haboush family members as well as their bodies wrapped in white cloth stained with blood.

Dozens of others were reported wounded. A video shared by Khaled Safi on the social media platform Twitter/X showed a crying injured girl with her face and clothes covered in dust and stained with blood. The video is captioned “A survivor from the rubble of the Haboush family home, which was recently targeted by [Israeli] aircraft”.

Later, Twitter/X  user @alsha_mi reported about 40 killed members of the Hanoush family, referring to her friend based in Gaza: “Muhammad Haboush, my friend from Gaza, I have been communicating with him every day since the beginning of the bombing. Today they were bombed in Gaza and 40 martyrs from the Haboush family died… Can you imagine the number 40 martyrs from the family who were martyred in an instant.”

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. According to the Facebook post by Haboush family, the attack happened without any prior warning.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured at approximately 11:15 am local time.