At approximately 11:30 AM, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, a declared Israeli airstrike hit the Rafidah School in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. The attack killed at least 25 civilians, including seven women and four children, and injured at least 54 others. At the time of the strike, the school was sheltering hundreds of displaced people seeking refuge and treatment at a medical point inside of the school when it was hit by the bombing.
The IDF in an official statement said the strike was targeting a command and control center. One individual was killed and has been identified as a militant, while four other people were killed and have been identified as individuals with contested civilian status.
Identifying names of individuals killed
Through messages from relatives and friends of the victims, Airwars was able to identify the names of 31 people killed in the Rafidah School that day.
Najwan Rabie Ahmed al-Sultan, 35, was killed alongside family members Zeinab Raafat al-Sultan, 27, and Mila Alaa al-Sultan, a child less than one-year-old. Ahmed Jamil Salman (contested civilian status), 40, was killed along with his cousin, Munther Mohamed Salman, 29. Mohammed Abed al-Salam Qasim al-Kafarna was killed together with family members Mohammed al-Abed al-Kafarna, 82, his wife Soumia Younis al-Kafarna, 87, Ilham Hussein al-Kafarna, 40, and a young boy named Abdallah al-Kafarna. Jamal Wahieb Hamouda was killed alongside his son, Mohamed Jamal Hamouda, 40, and his relative Ahmed Adel Hamouda, 58. Brothers Suleiman Mohamed Abu Khousa, 65, and Khaled Mohamed Abu Khousa, 60, were also killed in the strike.
Mohammed Abed al-Salam Qasim al-Kafarna was pictured in his Facebook account holding a weapon. In line with Airwars’ methodology, though holding weapons does not necessarily indicate membership of an armed group or participation in hostilities, Airwars categorises his civilian status as ‘contested’ to account for ambiguity. This will be updated should further information come to light.
Men named Mohamed Salah Tamraz (47), Mahmoud Kamel Abu Tayyem (28), Abdullah Abdul Hakim Joda (19), Mahmoud Basem Hijazi (23), his father-in-law Ali Mahmoud Balousha (40), Mousa Ali al-Samak (23), Hossam Abdullah al-Agha (32), Marwan Abdel Aziz al-Assar (60), Mohamed Saeed Nassar (43), and Yousef Ateeq Masmah (41), women named Ghaida Yousef Abu Rahma (24), Abeer Jamil Aql (Dawas, 32), and Suad Mohammed Yousef Rizq (66), and children named Attia Raed Baraka (17) Abdallah al-Masri were all killed in the strike.
An individual named Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished (26) was also killed in the strike and has been identified as a militant.
Media reports
The incident was reported by the Palestinian Press Agency (Safa News), which initially placed the toll at 13, later raised it to 19, and finally cited the Red Crescent’s count: 28 “martyrs” and 54 wounded. X (formerly Twitter) user @KhaledSafi reported more than 90 injuries, while a post from Alelamya News stated that “about 100” were wounded. According to a Facebook post from “MMB Learning English,” the strike had occurred while the victims were waiting in line at the food pantry.
Israeli military statement
Shortly after the air raid, the IDF announced on its official Telegram account that the Israeli Air Force had “conducted a precise strike on terrorists who were operating inside a command and control center in the area of Deir al-Balah,” adding that the alleged “control center” was located “inside a compound that previously served as the ‘Rufaydah’ School”. The IDF stated that “numerous steps” were taken before the operation to prevent civilian harm, “including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence”, and blamed Hamas for the “systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure”.
Eyewitness accounts
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, who witnessed the attack, described a “terrifying” scene where survivors and rescue teams were “collecting the body parts of the martyrs scattered inside the school.” He recounted that “the body parts were burned and torn apart by Israeli warplane missiles and the blood mixed with the remains of the walls and floors that bore traces of the crime.” Ahmed Abdel added that he saw the foot of one of the “martyrs” lying in the corner of one of the targeted rooms, where the belongings of the displaced, “including children’s toys” were “soaked in blood.”
Another eyewitness, a young man named Issam who spoke to Anadolu Agency, approached the school after hearing an explosion and seeing “a black cloud of smoke” rising from the compound. Issam also described medical teams collecting human remains into bags. A correspondent for the same agency, citing eyewitnesses, reported that several bodies were brought to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, “most of them in pieces.” The hospital was soon overcrowded, and doctors were forced to put the wounded “in the corridors and streets.”
Video from the aftermath of the strike
Several videos circulating on social media hours after the strike corroborated the eyewitness testimonies cited by Anadolu Agency and other local sources. In one video, dozens of people are seen running toward what appears to be the targeted area, some screaming for help or holding their heads in disbelief. Others, including several children, are seen fleeing in the opposite direction, in a visible state of panic. One man tries to help a woman to her feet while covering a wound on the left side of her head. Another man carries a seemingly unconscious young boy in his arms, stopping at one point to shout despairingly at the sky. One of the users who shared this video on X, @tamerqdh, noted that “entire families were killed and torn to pieces” and that the strike happened “at a time when the Israeli…army is asking the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to head south for their safety.”
Footage taken inside the school shows survivors looking for human remains within the rubble, some collecting small pieces of flesh into a bag. A man can be seen holding an arm that was ripped off from a body after the explosion. Another man shows reporters the mangled remains of one of the victims, shouting in rage. In a different clip posted by @gazanotice, a witness holds what appears to be a fragment of one of the missiles that targeted the building.
In another video, an ambulance arrives at the emergency entrance of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where paramedics are seen removing body fragments from the back of the vehicle. The video shows at least four children, all appearing to be under ten years old, in excruciating pain and shock as they are treated for wounds. “I beg you, I can’t take it anymore” says one of the children, bleeding from his head with visible burns on his face and arms.
Footage of a woman who was searching for her husband among the remains of the victims was also shared on X. “This is the state of Gaza women after every bombing,” she screamed at a group of journalists before fainting.
In a different video, posted by Al Jazeera, a young man is seen weeping inconsolably in front of the body of one of his family members. Several social media users also shared images from another funeral, where a child identified as Abdallah al-Masri is mourned by relatives. The burns on his face are evident.
A Facebook post by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society included a video where at least 4 wounded people lay on the floor of the Deir Al-Balah Clinic. According to this source, the clinic received 39 injuries “ranging from critical to moderate cases, most of whom were children and women.” The Red Crescent noted that the clinic was transformed into an emergency centre, despite it being intended for primary care, and added that the windows of the new pharmacy in the facility were shattered “as a result of the bombing.”
Listing the dead
Social media quickly filled with messages of mourning for the victims along with a now common practice in Gaza: lists enumerating the victims killed in an attack. “Every day we receive lists of martyrs and some days we receive two or three lists like this,” wrote Facebook user Walid Issa. “Our eyes examine each name and our minds try to squeeze memory to know if we met that person or studied with them or worked with them or even sat in a public session with them” he continued, before sharing a list with the names of some of those who were killed in the Rafidah School on October 10th.
The list included doctor Mahmoud Kamel Abu Tayyem and nurse Ghaida Yousef Abu Rahma.
Mahmoud Kamel (killed)
“With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn the husband of my sister”, wrote Abrar O. AbuHatab in a Facebook post where she shared a photo of Mahmoud Kamel – a “martyr of humanitarian work” – smiling at the camera in a blue tucked-in shirt, beige pants, and a brown belt. According to Fedaa Abu Elian, he was a “respectable and kind person” who was “martyred while performing his humanitarian and medical duty” at a medical point inside of the school, treating displaced people.
Ghaida Youse (killed)
Ghaida Yousef’s father Yousef al-Mukhtar Abo Rahma (member of the General Assembly of the Palestine Mukhtars Association) mourned his daughter in a heartfelt post. Ghaida Yousef whom her father called a “companion” in the nursing profession, was “martyred” while working with the Ard al-Insan Association, treating patients and feeding the displaced at the Rafidah School. The post includes a photo of Ghaida Yousef proudly posing with her father, wearing a red graduation cap embroidered with the letters “GH.”
Renad Elbuhaisi, Ghaida Yousef’s cousin, wrote in her farewell message, “You did not die among us and you will never die as long as we live.” “Be kind to us, time, why do you take from us those we love one by one?” she lamented. Another relative, Khloud Faried, mourned the loss of an “example of a persevering, well-mannered, smiling girl.” “You have pained our hearts with your departure,” wrote friend Sereen Adnan on a Facebook post.
According to her Facebook profile, Ghaida Yousef studied English at Amideast Gaza and had just graduated from nursing school October 3, 2023, just before the outbreak of the conflict.
Abdullah Abdul Hakim Joda (killed)
Many friends and relatives mourned the 19-year-old Abdullah Abdul Hakim Joda. Ameer Jo shared a photo of his “brother, friend and cousin”, dressed in a dark blue Adidas T-shirt, standing in front of a wall and a vibrant flowering tree. Another friend, Muhannad T Ahmed, wrote: “You were a dear and precious brother, and I will never forget you”. Friend Aya Akram also shared a condolence post, featuring a photo of Abdullah Abdul, whom she described as a “young, virtuous man”, posing on the beach. Amro Hassouna also mourned “one of my students and the son of a dear friend” Abdullah who had been their student in the science department two years ago, wishing condolences to his father, family and loved ones for their loss.
Sultan Zamani shared several pictures of his cousin in uniform. “The eye sheds tears, the heart grieves, and we are saddened by your departure”, he wrote. Meanwhile, Mohammad Zray lamented the loss of “one of the best young men of Deir al-Balah.” “We will meet in the highest paradise, my brother”, wrote Bashar Abo Haleeb.
Yousef Ateeq Masmah (killed)
Sultan Zamani also grieved “the martyr Yousef Ateeq Masmah” along with an image of Yousef in the same uniform, a police uniform, standing in front of the Deir al-Balah police station.
Mousa Ali al-Samak (killed)
According to Facebook user Khetam Awad, Mousa Ali al-Samak was an activist who was the “owner of the smile and happiness on the faces of our children.” His post showed a photo of Mousa Ali wearing a funny costume, in what appears to be a school presentation. “With your kindness and tenderness, you grew up among us as if you were our brother” read a heartfelt message by Reem Abed, adding that they had lived together in “the most beautiful and most difficult days.”
Shaba’an Khader Al Haia shared a poem honouring his friend, whom he called a “brother” and a “companion”:
On the day of parting, the companions cried
And tears of longing flowed and stained my cheeks
And the companions passed away
And left behind them those who came after them
Didn’t my soul tear apart?
His post included a photo of Mousa Ali, wearing a light shirt and blue jeans, smiling at the camera. In another post, Linda Hasan expressed sorrow that their cousin had joined his “martyred” mother, the virtuous educator Suad Mustafa al-Samak, who had died a few days before. A post from “MMB Learning English” stated that Musa had been injured a week before he was killed in another bombing – possibly the same bombing that killed his mother.
Manal Tamraz (killed)
Mohamed Salah Tamraz was mourned by his brother, Manal Tamraz: “My dear brother, everyone loves you and you are dear to everyone”, he wrote in a Facebook message. “I stand silent before your greatness and I will remain so because the Arabic language dictionary, rich in its vocabulary, is unable to eulogise you, my beloved”, expressed friend Saher K AIaqra, sharing a photo of Mohamed Salah, wearing a red polo shirt and black cap, sitting in the sand on a beach. “I hastened to leave, my childhood friend, companion, and beloved cousin,” posted with sorrow Ayman Temraz Abo Al-Abed.
Mohamed Saeed Nassar (killed)
Mohamed Saeed Nassar was mourned in a Facebook post by his brother, Abo Oday Nassar. “Nothing in this world is equal to having my brother in our lives, but what comforts our hearts in your departure is that you were a martyr for His pleasure,” he wrote. He also shared a photo of Mohamed Saeed wearing a light-coloured shirt, standing in front of a tree. The same photo was shared by his cousin, Hossam Nassar, who expressed with pain “The heart is saddened and the eye sheds tears.”
Ahmed Jameel Salman and Munther Mohammed Salman (killed)
Facebook user Ghaz Yousif Salman honoured his “family moons,” cousins Ahmed Jameel Salman and Munther Mohammed Salman, by sharing a photo collage of the two men set against a sky-themed background. Munther Mohammed, wearing glasses and a grey sports jacket, smiles. Ahmed Jameel poses against an ocean backdrop, dressed in a black cap and blue polo shirt.
Najwan Rabie Ahmed al-Sultan (killed)
Rana Ashour posted a condolence post for Najwan Rabie Ahmed al-Sultan, her 35-year-old sister-in-law. “O Allah, forgive her and make her happy with the scent and bliss of Paradise. And replace her home with a better home and her family with a better family, and accept her among the martyrs”, she wrote, expressing her grief. “This news breaks our hearts,” she concluded.
Mohamed Abu Khousa and Suleiman Mohamed Abu Khousa (killed)
Brothers Khaled Mohamed Abu Khousa and Suleiman Mohamed Abu Khousa were mourned by their loved ones. Um Ahmed Manaa wrote a farewell message for her cousins, who were her “consolation.” “A thousand mercies to them and may their abode be heaven” she wrote. On a Facebook post, Ayman Abu Khousa, the surviving brother of Khaled Mohamed and Suleiman Mohamed, expressed gratitude to everyone who attended the funeral or sent condolence messages, sharing several photos of the ceremony.
Suleiman Mohamed (killed)
In a separate post, Hisham Awadd shared photos of the two brothers, his wife’s uncles. Suleiman Mohamed is shown dressed in a beige knit vest over a white shirt, while Khaled Mohamed, wearing a white taqiyah and a black scarf, smiles as he shakes someone’s hand.
Marwan Abdel Aziz Al-Assar (killed)
Marwan Abdel Aziz Al-Assar was mourned by his first cousin once removed, Mohammed Jamil Al-Assar, who posted a photo of Marwan Abdel wearing a black shirt. His uncle, Hassan Rabah, shared a photo wishing for “God to have mercy” on his “dear nephew.” a “martyr in the massacre of Rafidah School in Deir Al-Balah.”
Jamal Wahieb Hamouda and Ahmed Adel Hamouda (killed)
In a Facebook message, Amany M Hammouda regretted the “martyrdom” of his cousin Jamal Wahieb Hamouda and his uncle Ahmed Adel Hamouda. “There are no words that can console us. Our affliction is great”, she expressed. A video posted by user Daeb Al-Shuhdaa shows, according to the caption, Ali Wahieb Hamouda, crying as he rests his head against the body of his brother, Jamal Wahieb.
Mahmoud Basem Hijazi (killed)
“With what words can I mourn you,” wrote Mahmoud al Omda, honouring his nephew, Mahmoud Basem Hijazi, whom he called the “most beautiful” and “most splendid of men.” “Your departure has filled the depths of my heart with sadness and regret,” he continued with sorrow. Ashraf Hijazi also lamented the loss of his “beloved, well-mannered and well-remembered” cousin.
In a different post, Khaleel Sharaf also mourned Mahmoud Basem, writing “I saw him yesterday in my dream as a laughing martyr, and today I bid him farewell, smiling, facing forward and not turning away.” The post included a photo of the victim, wearing glasses and a green and blue sweatshirt, looking at the camera.
Ali Mahmoud Balousha (killed)
Several posts were also dedicated to Mahmoud Basem’s father-in-law, Ali Mahmoud Balousha. His sister, Nermeen Balousha, asked for patience for Ali Mahmoud’s wife, Maryam Elmadhoon, their children, and her mother, Umm Ali Balousha, noting that not a “year has passed since the martyrdom” of her two sisters, Islam Balousha and Asmaa Balousha. In the post Ali Mahmoud is seen wearing a green shirt, a gentle expression on his face, holding a cup of tea.
Karmel Balousha, another of Ali Mahmoud’s sisters, also expressed deep sorrow for the death of her “dearest brother.” “Where did you go, my beloved,” she wrote, “it’s still early, we haven’t gotten over our first pain yet,” referring to the death of her two sisters. “I will never forget your support, my dear,” she carried on, before assuring that she would take care of his children and wife. Najeia Tammous, Ali Mahmoud’s niece also honoured her “kind and compassionate” uncle, and asked God to “comfort the hearts” of his children. A colleague and friend of Ali named Youssouf Khader wrote that he had tried to visit Ali at the school at 11 am the day before his death, but they did not have a chance to meet.
Attia Raed Baraka (killed)
The Facebook group “All of the Baraka Family in The Homeland and Diaspora” mourned Attia Raed Baraka. In a photo, Attia Raed holds his phone in one hand while the other rests in the pocket of his Nike sweatshirt. Behind him is a backdrop of green trees, their trunks painted white. He was 17 years old.
Members of the Al-Kafarna Family (three killed)
Sajeda A Qasem mourned their only cousin, Mohammed Abed al-Salam Qasim al-Kafarna, along with a prayer and an image of Mohammed, a young man wearing a blue button-up shirt.
A post from Mousa Hamed mourned the younger Mohammed as well as the elderly Mohammed al-Abed al-Kafarna and his wife Soumia, along with an image of the couple.
Recording contested civilian status (four killed)
On February 26, 2026, March 4, 2026, and November 16, 2025, respectively, the account that published a commemorative poster to Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished without accompanying media shared the same for Munther Mohammed Salma, Ahmed Jameel Salman, and Hossam Abdullah al-Agha.
In regard to Ahmed and Munther, family and friends posted in the days following the strike, never referring to the two men as 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 the men in military clothes, a militant position, or holding a weapon. Instead, the images shared were ones shared by family in the days after their 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.
While video was shared in regard to Hossam Abdullah al-Agha, it did not show Hossam acting in a militant capacity.
As the providence of the account is unclear and visual evidence indicating that Ahmed Jameel, Munther Mohammed, or Hossam Abdullah al-Agha were involved in militant activity was not shared, Airwars has recorded Ahmed Jameel Salma, Munther Mohammed Salman, and Hossam Abdullah al-Agha as 'contested', meaning that their deaths are included in the upper but not lower range of civilians reportedly killed in this incident. This will be updated should additional information become available.
Mohammed Abed al-Salam’s Facebook included an image of a young man (unclear if it is Mohammed) with a military-grade weapon but without any visit insignia or logos belonging to a militant group. Therefore, Mohammed’s civilian status has been listed as “contested” until further information comes to light.
Identifying militancy (one killed)
When Airwars first published this incident, no open sources were found to suggest that Ahmed Jameel Salman, Munther Mohammed Salman, or Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished were militants. As such, Airwars recorded both men as civilians. 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.
Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished was a member of Hamas' militant wing, Al-Qessam Brigades, and also a police officer who studied at Al Azhar University in Gaza. “Today, Deir al-Balah, the Deir al-Balah police, and the sons of al-Barakah bid farewell”, wrote Younis Al Radwan in a mourning message to his friend, “the best of the polite and sincere youth in word and deed”. The Facebook post included a photo of Salem Rafat wearing a white polo shirt, a gun tucked in his jeans, pointing at the sky. A post from Abo Yousif referred to Salem as a “mujahid”. When the incident was published, it iswas unclear whether "mujahed" was in reference to his service as a police officer or if Salem was involved in militant activities. As such, he was originally recorded as a civilian.
On January 28, 2026, a Telegram account which has frequently shared commemorative posters to individuals it refers to as 'fighters' published a tribute to Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished, identifying him as such, but without accompanying media showing him engaged in militancy.
Then, on September 20, 2026, Telegram accounts affiliated with Hamas' armed wing published tirbutes to Salem Rafat Abu Ruwaished identifying him as a militant and sharing video showing him engaged in militancy. As such, he has been recorded as a militant.
Reconciling names with the Ministry of Health
Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the eighth ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list.