At least seven people were killed–spanning three generations–in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Baroud family home on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023; “a number” of others were reported wounded.
The matriarch of the family, 81-year old Halima Baroud was killed with her younger brother, 61-year old Dr. Naeem Baroud who was the former dean of the Faculty of Arts and a professor of Geography at the Islamic University in Gaza. Halima’s sons, 37-year old Muhannad Ali Baroud and 50-year old Raed Ali Baroud were killed, as were two of her grandchildren, 17-year old Siraj Hossam Baroud and 12-year old Sarah Hossam Baroud.
The attack also claimed the life of Ayman Baroud, a journalist with the media office of the Crossings and Border Authority.
Friends and relatives posted social media tributes mourning the deceased. A post from Facebook user Hatem mourned the loss of his “beloved friend” Raed. A colleague of Naeem, Professor Riyad Shaheen, posted a picture of the two wearing academic regalia, and remembered Naeem as a “beloved brother and colleague.” Other posts included candid pictures of the family, and one showed photos of Siraj and Sarah with Sarah holding certificates at school.
The home, located near the White Mosque, was in the al-Shati refugee camp. A post from the family’s Facebook alleged that the strike occurred “without warning.”
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.