In the afternoon of October 25th 2023, seven identified members of the al-Shaer family, including one woman and at least one child, were killed, and up to 10 others were injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike hit a house for the al-Shaer family on Aed Al-Bashiti Street behind Al-Isra Mosque in the Al-Geneina neighbourhood in Rafah, the Gaza Strip. The house was reportedly “completely destroyed” as it can be seen in the image shared by the Rafah service official page.
Initial reports stated that two people were killed in the incident with up to ten others injured. Journalist Adel Zorub shared on Facebook images of the injured people being transported on stretchers and treated in a hospital.
One of those who survived the airstrike was a child who gave an interview to Al Jazeera. He said that his name was Amer Qutaifan. According to him, the airstrike happened while he was in the mosque to fill water and he was there with his father.
A graphic video shared by Abdallah al-attar on Facebook shows a man crying over the dead body of his relative lying on a stretcher. According to the Abdallah al-attar, the man killed was Atef al-Shaer.
As the day progressed, four casualties from the al-Shaer family were named as having been killed: 64-year-old Atef Hamdan al-Shaer, who was taken to Al-Najjar Hospital; wife of Sheikh Riyad al-Shaer, 47-year-old Enas Suleiman al-Shaer; 23-year-old son of Enas, Karim Riad al-Shaer; and 16-year-old daughter of Enas, Habiba Riad al-Shaer.
Facebook user Zuoher Mahmood Gooda remembered Karim Riad al-Shaer as “a good, decent young man next to his Lord.” He shared an image of a young smiling man in a jacket. Sharing news of Karim’s death, Facebook user Wael Omar Elshaer asked, “May god have mercy on you, my friend, and make your home paradise.”
Riyad Hamdan al-Shaer, Enas’ husband and their son, Omar Riyad Hamdan al-Shaer, initially survived the bombing. The family asked for “prayers for their recovery” in a Facebook post shared on October 26, 2023. Sadly, on October 29, 2023, it was reported that Omar had succumbed to his injuries and died.
Also on October 29, 2023, the death of another son of Riyad and Enas, 20-year-old Mahmoud Riyad Hamdan al-Shaer who had also succumbed to his injuries was reported by Safa Press, Shehab Agency, and Samaa News.
A few days later, on November 3, 2023, Omar’s and Mahmoud’s father Riyad also died because of his wounds, bringing the death toll to seven.
Al-Shaer family in the country Facebook account shared the image of the late Riyad – the middle-aged bold man with a broad smile and of Omar, a teenager in a black t-shirt.
Following news of the deaths, friends and family shared posts mourning the loss of their loved ones. Many shared religious messages stating, “And do not think that those who were killed in the cause of God are dead, but rather alive in the sight of their Lord, being provided for.”
Many other posts thought of the family members left and asked that “God cover them with His vast mercy and to inspire those family members with patience and solace.”
Where possible, Airwars has matched names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th, 2023.
Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Israeli forces.