On Saturday, 28th October 2023, at least seven members of the Aslan Family were reportedly killed and others wounded in an alleged Israeli attack against Block 7 of the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The attack reportedly hit a house belonging to the family.
According to several sources, IIham Al Malakh and her sons – Khaled Mazen Mustafa Aslan, Ahmed Mazen Mustafa Aslan and Moataz Mazen Mustafa Aslan – were killed in the attack. Also killed were Moataz Mazen Mustafa Aslan’s wife, Haya, along with their two daughters, Ilham Moataz Mazen Aslan and Marya Moataz Mazen Aslan. Some sources, including Hosam Eddine Al Nouri and Khalid Aslan, mentioned that Haya was pregnant at the time of the attack, though this was not confirmed.
A post from Hossam El Dabakah referred to Khaled, Ahmed, and Moataz as “Mujahid” – which could indicate that they were militants. However, there was no additional information to indicate that the brothers were militants. Therefore their status has been listed as “contested” civilian/militant.
The exact number of casualties varies, with Em Ahmad Aslan reporting 10 family members killed, while Mohamed G AL Malekh reported at least seven.
Family members and friends mourned the loss on social media, sharing pictures and tributes to the deceased. Mohamed G AL Malekh posted, “We mourn to the Most High – My dear aunt Illham Al-Malakh and her sons Khaled, Ahmed and Moataz.” Muna Aslan also expressed her grief on Facebook, saying, “My cousins, may God have mercy on them and grant them the highest place in heaven, God willing.”
Khamis Hussein posted an image of “the Aslan family members” who were killed – likely Khaled, Ahmed, and Moataz – pictured at a formal event in suits. According to Suhail Sokkar, Ilham’s husband and Khaled, Ahmed, and Moataz’s father Mazan Aslan had died before the attack, so that his family was now “united” with him. Images included in Suhail Sokkar’s post show multiple bodies wrapped in shrouds, and in one image, an elderly woman and a young man are seen mourning the bodies of an adult and child.
FathNewsPortal.Palestine reported “wounded” resulting from the attack, but none provided a specific number.
Most sources did not provide specifics on the form of the attack. However, according to Khamis Hussein and Mohamed G AL Malekh, the family was killed as a result of the “bombing of their home” while FathNewsPortal.Palestine reported the “targeting” of the house.
Where sources identified a belligerent, the attack was attributed to the Israeli Military.
Regarding the specific area of the incident, all sources that refer to the location reported that it occurred in Block 7 of the Bureij refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip.