An alleged Israeli bombardment killed at least 24 civilians, including members of the Tabasi, al-Hams and Abu Younis families, on the 22nd of October 2023, in the Tal Al-Sultan area in the west of Rafah in Gaza. The number of injured civilians remains unknown and some were still stuck under the rubble at the time of the reporting. The airstrike took place shortly before 12:23PM when Shehab Agency reported it. A 25th person was killed and has been identified as a militant.
Journalist Adel Zourub provided the names of many of those killed: 60-year-old Mahmoud Ahmed Musa Tabasi, along with his daughter Joan Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi and sons, 33-year-old Ahmed Mahmoud Musa Tabasi, 39-year-old Ghassan Mahmoud Musa Tabasi, and 41-year-old Talat Mahmoud Musa Tabasi. Talat’s 12-year-old son, Musa Talaat Mahmoud Tabasi, was also killed.
Others from the Tabasi family were killed, named as Ahmed Musa Musa Tabasi, and 5-year-old Adam Muhammad Ahmed Tabasi. Mohammed Salman Tabasi identified the child Musa Raed Tabasi among those killed; another child, 3-year-old Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Tabasi, was named by Adel Zourub.
Nufal al Akhras added names of the dead who were identified at Emirati Hospital: 9-year-old Amina Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi and her one-year-old sister Sour Fouad Mahmoud Tabasi.
Shaima Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (41) was killed, along with her children, daughters Sarah Hani Samir Al-Hams (13), Huda Hani Samir al-Hams (11) and Malak Hani Samir al-Hams (18). Shaima’s husband Dr. Hani al-Hams posted a memorial for his wife and children, adding that their son Omar Hani al-Hams was still missing under the rubble at the time. There was no further reporting on whether Omar was killed or injured or survived unscathed, but his name was not found on the Ministry of Health list.
Other members of the Abu Younis family who were killed include Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (34, a militant), Asmaa Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (26), and Taher Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis (39). Based on their names, it is likely that they were siblings of Shaima. A child named Sila Zafer Ahmed Al-Hams, likely a one year old based on the Ministry of Health list (but last name is listed as Abu Younis, which would likely make her the child of Zafer) was also killed.
According to the Kuwait Specialized Hospital, Hamdi Ismail al-Zahar (40) was reportedly killed alongside eight-year-old Saqr Ahmed Ismail al-Zahar while another source mentioned that Hamdi’s son was also killed. A post from Hassan Al-Zahar Abu Said identified Hamdi’s nephew “Ahmed” as among those killed and stated that Saqr was Hamdi’s son (although the names do not indicate this).
Ahmed Abdel Aziz Abu Khatla and 34-year-old Magda Gamal Ibrahim Aram.
At the time of reporting, it appeared there were still others unaccounted for under the rubble.
When Airwars first published this incident, no open sources were found to suggest that Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis was a militant. As such, Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis 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 October 22, 2023, a Telegram account affiliated with Fatah's armed wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, published a tribute to Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis, identifying him as a field commander. As such, Airwars updated Zafer Ahmed Khamis Abu Younis's status from civilian to militant and changed the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident from 25 to 24.
Fadi al-Arawi posted a condolence message for his “brother and friend” Talaat Tabasi while Journalist Adel Zourub posted a graphic image of a dead child identified as Musa Raed Tabasi. Additional condolence messages were posted by various other family members and friends.
Some of the victims of the attack were brought to the al-Kuwaiti and al-Najjar hospitals as noted in Firas Abu Sharkh’s post. Multiple other outlets noted the bodies were brought to the Emirati Hospital, including those of injured people without specifying a toll. Images of men praying in front of one of the bodies of the victims in a mosque were released as well as doctors praying in front of the Kuwaiti hospital in front of the victims who had arrived at the hospital. Rescue teams reported that others were still stuck under the rubble meaning there may yet be more unidentified casualties. Furthermore, many people were unidentifiable due to the mutilation of their bodies once they arrived at the Emirati hospital.
Where sources specified the belligerent, all sources attributed the airstrike to the Israeli military.
Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.