On October 14th 2023 at around 1 am, Israeli forces allegedly conducted an airstrike in Tal Al-Hawa, located in the south of Gaza City. The strike reportedly killed Palestinian surgeon Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidam and his extended family at his home. Among the dead were between 23 to 31 civilians, including at least 12 children*, seven women (including a pregnant woman), and seven men. One other individual was reportedly killed and has been identified as a militant.
Whilst all sources agreed that Dr Medhat Saidam was killed, alongside his family, different sources identified different family members allegedly killed in the attack.
Twitter user @dryouceff and the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Dr. Medhat Mahmoud Saidam had been working for seven consecutive days at the Indonesian Hospital before the strike occurred. Interviewed by Al Jazeera, doctor Ahmed Makhlalati confirmed that statement, saying that his colleague Dr Medhat Mahmoud Saidam was coming home to see his family and planned to go back to the hospital but was killed when a strike hit his house at around 1 am. @Gredto reported that Dr. Saidam was killed along with 30 members of his family.
On Facebook, Dr. Ahmad Mokhalalati described Dr Medhat Saidam as “one of the pioneers of plastic surgery and burns in Gaza”, “a big brother”, “a compassionate human being” who “devoted his life to serving patients, providing care for them, and educating the new younger generation”. He also added: “I cannot imagine what the atmosphere of the place would be like after him. I cannot imagine our morning meetings without him joining us with his enthusiasm and positive energy…May God have mercy on him and his entire family.” A tweet from Gredto added that “the doctor specializing in plastic surgery contributed to alleviating the suffering of those wounded in the Gaza wars 2009-2014”.
A Facebook post from Dr. Medhat Saidam’s cousin, Mohammed Saidam, named the following victims killed: Dr Medhat Mahmoud Saidam and Dr Medhat Saidam’s mother, Umm Medhat, married to the deceased Dr Mahmoud Saidam. Another source identified Umm Medhat as Majda Saidam (Al-Dajani)
The same source mentioned the death of Medhat Saidam’s two brothers, and their family, namely: Ahmed Mahmoud Saidam and his wife Shamah Ahmed and their children. Another Facebook source, Hussam Al-Dajni, documented the names of the children as: Abdul Rahman Ahmed Saidam, Magda Ahmed Saidam, Maryam Ahmed Saidam, Fatima Ahmed Saidam, Sameh Mahmoud Saidam, his pregnant wife Suhad Iyad Al-Dajani, their unborn baby Rana Sameh Saidam, and their children Sameh Saidam and Mira Sameh Saidam.
Mohammad Saidam also listed his female cousin‘s death, alongside her children, without providing their identity, age, or the number of children.
A Facebook post by Ahmad ALameen provided the names of additional victims killed, civilians also described by Hussam Al-Dajni as “Abu Jihad’s children and wife”:
Nahil Ayesh Al-Dajani, Umm Jihad, wife of Abu Jihad. One source said she was still alive while others referred to her as with the term “martyr”, implying she was also killed in the strike. The children were named as: Dr. Youssef Al-Dajani, (Abu Jihad’s son), Abdul Rahman Al-Dajani, (Abu Jihad’s son), Suhad Al-Dajani (already mentioned above, married to Sameh Saidam), and Abu Jihad’s daughter.
Abu Jihad’s son, 25-year-old Alaa Iyad Al-Dajani, was also killed and has been identified as a militant.
A Facebook post from the brother of Umm Medhat, named Hussam Al-Dajni, also documented the following civilian killed in the same attack: Balsam Farouk Al-Nono (Dr. Saidam’s sister in law). Multiple social media users described additional family members killed: Nawal Abdullah Ahmed Abu Nada (16 years old), Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed Abu Nada (15 years old), Anas Abdullah Ahmed Abundi (12 years old), Mohammed Abdullah Ahmed Abondi (6 years old), and Samah Abu Nada (Saidam). According to a Facebook post published by Anadolu Agency, those killed were all part of the same family unit. On this point, the outlet described them as the wife and four children of “Palestinian doctor Abdullah Abu Nada.” Footage of Abdullah Abu Nada grieving publicly was widely shared in the days following this incident. One Facebook user, posting on October 17, captioned this footage “Dr. Abdullah Abu Nada receives his family as martyrs 4 days after their house was targeted.” Other local sources added that the family was under the rubble during those 4 days.
@dryouceff reported that the strike occurred at Dr. Saidam’s home, which was located near Al-Hidaya Mosque in Tal Al-Hawa. Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.
*Airwars has provisionally reconciled these names to those published by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on October 26, 2023. IDs from the MoH document are listed alongside names, and ages provided by the MoH. For cases where ‘children’ are referred to without additional biographical detail, Airwars assumes a range of at least 2.