Around dawn (local time) on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at least eight civilians, including one woman and six children, were killed, and a number of civilians were injured by an alleged Israeli airstrike in the al-Hawajri family home in Deir Balah, Gaza Strip. A ninth member of the family was killed and has been recorded with a contested civilian status.
Those killed include four brothers Hamza Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (aged 21 or 22, contested), Harith Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (15 or 16), Muhammad Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (11 or 12), and Omar Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (5), their two sisters, Saja Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (13) and Amal Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (27), as well as nephews (sons of Amal) Ayman al-Jayeh (3) and Ahmed al-Jayeh (1), and brother-in-law Ibrahim Abu Loz (26). At least one other relative of the family, Zeina Zidane Al-Hawajri’s father (and likely grandfather to Hamza and siblings), was injured in the attack but the same source indicated that the number of injured was higher.
Alwatan voice reported “At dawn… dozens of martyrs and wounded in new Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip…According to what was reported by the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza, the [Israeli] aircraft bombed a house for the “Al-Hawajri” family in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip, and there were a number of martyrs and wounded.” Similarly, @qudsn posted on X, “The [Israeli] aircraft bombed a house for the Al-Hawajri family in Deir Balah, killing a number of family members and wounding them.” Photographs posted on Facebook by @Maaliepress1 show the complete destruction of the Al-Hawajri family home, with numerous people scouring through the rubble.
Following the incident, family member Yahia [al-Hawajri] wrote on Facebook that “Israel bombed our house today. My brothers Hamza, Muhammad, Omar and Harith were martyred. My sisters, Saja and Amal, and Amal’s two children, Ayman and Ahmed. And my sister’s husband, Ibrahim Abu Loz. Oh my beloved, I hope you are in a better place and comfortable. You will always live inside my heart.” Amal’s husband Mahmoud Al-Jayeh also posted a condolence message to his wife and two sons who were killed, along with an image of the young boys in matching outfits.
Facebook user Abu Omar Al-Ramlawi, who was contacting the family about the “Brotherhood of Friends of Blogging” initiative wrote, “#Zeina, our precious daughter and dear friend…the patient and stationed woman, was saddened today by the martyrdom of her nephews as a result of the bombing and destruction of their house at the heads of the family at dawn today…Despite her young age, she is the aunt of an entire generation of young people, whom she lost. 8 today…despite the number of the injured people, [S]he and her family were patient, patient, and steadfast…Her father, as of 5 p.m., was still waiting to enter the operating room to undergo an operation to treat the effects of his injury in the bombing.”
When Airwars first published this incident, no open sources were found to suggest that Hamza Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri was a militant. As such, Hamza Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri was recorded as a civilian. This was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status'. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.
On February 26, 2026, a Telegram account which has frequently shared commemorative posters to individuals it refers to as 'fighters' published a tribute to Hamza Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri, identifying him as such.
However, family members posted frequently in the months and years following the strike, in memory of Hamza and his family members, and never referred to Hamza having been involved in militant activity. Additionally, unlike other Telegram accounts posting tributes to individuals who were militants, this account and accompanying post did not show Hamza in military clothes, a militant position, or holding a weapon. Instead, the image shared was one that Hamza's aunt shared in the days after his death. Additionally, other accounts frequently post video compilations showing the individual involved in militant activity and pledging allegiance to a group. No such video was shared.
In light of the post that was shared - a photo originally shared by a family member, superimposed on a poster naming him as a 'mujahed' (fighter) - Airwars has changed Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri's status from civilian to contested and changed the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident from nine to eight. This will be updated should additional information become available.
All 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.