On October 17, 2023, at least 10 people, members of the Barbakh family, were killed and at least five others were wounded during an alleged Israeli airstrike at the Barbakh family home on Al Barid road, central Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.
The attack, which struck the property located opposite the post office in central Khan Younis, occurred at around 2.50pm and resulted in an unknown number of injuries.
The Barbakh family bore the heaviest toll in this tragic incident, encompassing multiple generations from the eldest, 67-year-old Sheikh Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh (915605455), to the youngest, one-year-old Sawsan Mustafa Mahmoud Barbakh (445000276). Among those who lost their lives were Sawsan Ahmed Muammar (wife of Mahmoud), aged 54 (924300650); their son, Muhammad Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, aged 13 (429488653); their grandson, Uday Makram Aouni Barbakh, aged 17 (424184737); Kholoud Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, 21 (daughter of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (408537231); Sabreen Mahmoud Saeed Barbakh, 32 (daughter of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (803466366); and Samar Imad Al-Masry, 26, (daughter-in-law of Mahmoud and Sawsan) (403095318); Sally Ramez Muhammad Abu Muammar, 4 (daughter of Sabreen); and Saba Ramez Ahmed Barbakh (daughter of Sabreen).
Jihad Barbakh, a family member of the deceased, provided the names of the 10 members of the Barbakh family who were killed, in addition to mentioning that “more than 10 martyrs were passers-by on the road”, indicating that there were at least 10 additional deaths.
Local reports emphasised the absence of any forewarning prior to the attack. Immediately following the incident, eyewitness videos emerged which depict a scene of panic followed by a swift and substantial mobilisation of rescue operations. Local sources, including the Palestinian Health Ministry, reported that a number of casualties who were pulled from the rubble managed to reach Nasser Hospital, others could not be saved.
In the days and weeks preceding the incident, surviving members of the Barbakh family have paid tribute to their lost loved ones on Facebook. Most poignant of all was a November 3, video post from Mostafa Mahmud, husband of Samar Imad Al-Masry, showing their daughter one-year-old Sawsan Mustafa Mahmoud joyfully playing in her home. Mostafa explained that the video was captured less than five minutes before the airstrike hit their residence.
Multiple sources, Alaraby News and Safa News, reported that “injuries” resulted from the bombing but did not provide a toll. Images posted by Zahia Farahat show children and a man being treated from their injuries, with at least four different children receiving medical care.
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 strike to the Israeli military.