In the early afternoon of Thursday, October 17, 2024, a declared Israeli strike (conducted either through artillery strikes or tank fire) hit the Abu Hussein Elementary School for Boys affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) located in the Jabalia Refugee Camp, North Gaza, reportedly killing at least 11 civilians, and injuring 150 other civilians. Multiple sources emphasized that most of the victims were women and children. At least nine individuals identified as militants were also reportedly killed.
The school served as a shelter for thousands of displaced people, and the attack reportedly hit the school it at the time of the food distribution. Most sources reported “dozens” or “large numbers” of killed and wounded, with some describing the incident as a massacre.
Israeli military statement
On October 22, 2024, the Israeli military published an announcement relating to the strike, writing: “Last week (Thursday), the Israeli Air Force, acting on intelligence from Military Intelligence, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, precisely targeted gathering points of Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives working in a command and control complex established in the former Abu Hussein Schoolyard in northern Gaza. At least 18 Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives were killed in the strike.” The post included an infographic which named the alleged 18 militant operatives.
Identifying militants killed (nine)
Reviewing open sources, Airwars found sourcing indicating that seven of the 18 individuals named were militants affiliated with an armed group – Osama Ahmed Misbah al-Arini, Hafez Essam Khalil Abu Seif, Bilal Mahmoud Ahmed al-Khatib (Abu Musab), Alaa Deeb Misbah al-Najjar, Ammar Ayad Muhammad al-Arabeed and Youssef Kamal Mahmoud al-Khatib were affiliated with Hamas' armed wing, Al-Qassem Brigades; and Abdullah Nafiz Muhammad Abu Morsi, Nader al-Sha’arawi (Abu Ezzat), and Muhammad Nahed Ibrahim Jarad were affiliated with Palestiniain Islamic Jihad (PIJ)'s armed wing. Notably, the IDF shared images of all of the individuals they targeted.
The image that the IDF claimed to be of Abdullah did not match those shared by PIJ or loved ones.
Individuals named by the IDF as killed but not confirmed as killed by independent sources
The military named 11 other individuals who were supposedly killed in the declared strike, but Airwars was unable to find information among local sources confirming that they were killed in this incident. As such, they have been excluded from the list of those individuals killed in this incident. They are: Mohammed Rafet Hussein Thaher; Mohammed Abdullah Abdulrahman Tamraz; Ahmed Mohammed Subhi Temraz; Mustafa Alil Khalil Awda; Youssef Husni Ali Salem; Ahmed Abdulnasser Awad Hamdouna; Ahmed Abdulrahman Mahmoud Abu Al-Janin; Abdul Karim Hassan Awad Hamdouna; Ibrahim Hussein Musa Mahmoud; Abdul Rahman Fawzi Kamel Washah; Mohammed Samih Ata Sheikh. This will be updated should additional information become available.
Quantifying the toll
Al-Jazeera Arabic initially reported 15 victims but later raised the toll to 25, while other sources, such as Muhammad Yassin al-Mar’ai, cited 22 deaths, and some accounts, such as Ihcen Bks Facebook post, placed the number as high as 35. Injuries were extensive, and Facebook user Mohammed Jamal Alshayah raised the injury toll to 150, with many in critical condition. According to a post by the al-Dameer Association, at least 10 children and five women were among the fatalities.
Airwars identified 19 individuals killed in the attack among social media sources, as well as one individual who was injured. Ten of the identified individuals came from four families. In the aftermath of the incident, loved ones used social media to express their grief and to honor the victims' memories, with many sharing photos in tribute to their lives.
Identifying casualties
Ibrahim Nahed Muhammad Morsi was killed alongside Abdullah Nafiz Muham
mad Abu Morsi (a militant).
Youssef Kamal Mahmoud al-Khatib lost his life alongside his brother Bilal Mahmoud Ahmed al-Khatib ("Abu Musab," a militant).
Surviving relative Mahmoud al-Khatieb Abu Jamal mourned the loss of his cousins Youssef and Bilal, as did Abu Ahmed Abdallah and Alaa Umm Moath. Alaa om Moath wrote just a couple of days before the October 17 strike that other family members, Muhammad Jamal Al-Khatib and Musa Mahmoud Al-Khatib, had been also killed.
An elderly man named Omar Hussein Abdel Ghani Abu al-Jabin was killed alongside his wife, Rafqa Abdel Aziz Muhammad Abu al-Jabin.
Mahmoud Abu al-Jabin confirmed the death of his sister, Rafqa Abdul Aziz Abu al-Jabin and her husband Omar Hussein Abu al-Jabin, writing, “We ask God Almighty to accept them in His mercy among the righteous and to make their graves a garden from the gardens of Paradise and to inhabit them in His spacious gardens and to grant us patience, solace, and steadfastness.” He also posted a picture of the older couple on pilgrimage in Mecca. In addition, Abdel al-Jubain and Heno Heno mourned the loss of their "beloved uncle" and "kind and caring aunt." Omar’s cousin, Hesham Abu al-Jabin, mourned the couple as well.
Umm Aaed Jarad extended condolences for the loss of her husband’s cousin, Muhammad Nahed Ibrahim Jarad. Hanan Alhaya and Zakaria Jarad also expressed their deepest sympathies, with Zakaria grieving the loss of his cousin’s son, Muhammad. Similarly, Hala Hala and her husband, Ayad Mohsen, Muhammad’s cousins, offered prayers, asking God to grant patience and solace to the grieving families. Al-Mostashar Ibrahim Jarad and Abu Ahmed Jarad, also cousins, joined in mourning the tragic loss of Muhammad, with Al-Mostashar Ibrahim Jarad including an image of the young man wearing a shirt with a Prada logo.
The loss of Tawfiq Mamdouh Tawfiq Saleh left an indelible mark on the hearts of his family and loved ones. Among those who mourned him was Amar Abo al-Aiesh, his nephew, who described Tawfiq as "a man of good morals and a good son." Cousins Emad Ahmed, Muhammad Meslah, and Muhammad Abu al-Aiesh also paid their respects, with the latter remembering Tawfiq as a kind, pious, and well-mannered young man.
Tamer M. Saleh, Tawfiq’s brother, shared a deeply emotional tribute, reflecting on the profound loss of someone he described as the kindest soul he had ever known. Tawfiq, he said, led a life of goodness, never causing harm and always maintaining an exemplary reputation. Overwhelmed by grief, Tamer lamented the premature farewell, vividly recalling Tawfiq’s laughter and the unforgettable bond they shared. Tamer recounted their final moments together, including their last phone call the day before Tawfiq’s passing, where they discussed organising belongings and shared light-hearted advice. Despite occasional arguments, Tawfiq always brought warmth and humour to restore peace. Tamer also revealed that Tawfiq had once spoken about how he wished to be given a proper goodbye, confessing his pain at not being able to fulfill his brother’s wishes. Tamer prayed for mercy upon Tawfiq’s soul and sought strength to endure the pain of separation. Yet, amidst the sorrow, he held onto hope, promising to honour Tawfiq’s memory and expressing faith in a future reunion.
Tawfiq was a young man with a trimmed dark beard. Several social media accounts shared a graphic picture of his dead body in a white shroud where his face can be seen.
Among the killed victims mentioned by the sources were also Jamal Rami Abdel Hadi Sobh and Muhammad Moamer. Feras Al Jazazi shared an image of an elderly slender man in his 60s or 70s, stating that this was Muhammad Moamer who had been killed in the deadly strike. There was no additional information about Jamal Rami Abdel Hadi Sobh available in the sources.
Facebook users also identified the name of one injured civilian as Magdy Bahjat al-Telouli. Abu al-Waleed Muhammad al-Talouni, the uncle of Magdy Bahjat al-Telouli, shared on Facebook his prayers for the swift recovery of his nephew, who was injured in the attack. Magdy is seen in the pictures as a teenager or a young man.
The child Salah Youssef Hamed al-Arini was killed alongside his brother, also a child Muhammad Youssef Hamed al-Arini, and their uncles, Hafez Essam Khalil Abu Seif (a militant) and Osama Ahmed Misbah al-Arini (a militant).
Al-Areni Mahmoud bid farewell to three family members: his two younger brothers, Muhammad Yousef al-Arini and Salah Yousef al-Arini, along with their uncle, Osama Ahmed al-Arini. Osama, a childhood friend and neighbour of Mostafa al-Sweiti, was remembered not only as family but as a figure of dedication. Mazen Nur offered condolences to Osama’s cousin Dr. Abu Khaled al-Arini, his wife Umm Abdul Rahman, his mother Umm Alaa, and all their loved ones, saying: “We mourn a man who dedicated his life for al-Aqsa, and sacrificed his soul for the sake of God on the path to liberating it.”
According to the post by Jabalia Camp, “Jabalia’s most famous barber” and the owner of “Mona Lisa” barber salon, Nader al-Sha’arawi (Abu Ezzat) - a militant - was reported to have died from wounds incurred during this attack.
Recording militancy
Osama al-Arini (Hamas)
When Airwars first published this incident on December 24, 2024, no open sources were found to suggest that Osama Ahmed Misbah al-Arini was a militant. As such, Osama al-Arini 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 June 17, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Hamas’ armed wing, Al-Qessam Brigades, published a tribute to Osama al-Arini, identifying him as a “martyred Qessam fighter”. As such, Airwars updated Osama al-Arini’s status from civilian to militant.
Hafez Essam Khalil Abu Seif (Hamas)
On July 28, 2026, the same Telegram acocunt, published a tribute to Hafez Essam Khalil Abu Seif, identifying him as a field commander. As such, Airwars updated Hafez Essam Khalil Abu Seif’s status from civilian to militant and changed the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident accordingly.
Bilal Mahmoud Ahmed al-Khatib (Abu Musab)
On September 19, 2026 a similar Telegram accounted, also affiliated with Hamas' armed wing, published a tribute video to "The martyred Qessami fighter / Nasim Hasan Abu A'ita." Timestamp 3:42 of the clip showed an image of three men, with the caption "Ismael Shahin and Bilal al-Khatib". Comparing the image to others posted by friends and loved ones, the clip appeared to show Bilal Mahmoud Ahmed al-Khatib. To confirm, Airwars reviewed sources published in the years after this incident was published, and located tributes from family members, posted in late 2024, 2025, and 2026, showing Bilal posing with large arms and being remembered as a "hero" and "fighter". These posts, combined with the imagery shared in the Telegram post, have been taken to indicate that Bilal was a militant.
Abdullah Muhammad Nafez Morsi (PIJ) and Muhammad Nahed Ibrahim Jarad (PIJ)
On August 5 and August 11, 2026, respectively, a Telegram account affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)'s armed wing posted tributes to Abdullah Muhammad Nafez Morsi and Muhammad Nahed Ibrahim Jarad, identifying them as fighters. As such, Airwars updated both men's status from civilian to militant, and updated the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident, accordingly.
Nader al-Sha'arawi (Abu Ezat)(PIJ)
On August 14, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)'s armed wing posted a tribute to Nader al-Sha’arawi (Abu Ezzat), identifying him as a fighter. As such, Airwars updated Nader's status from civilian to militant, and updated the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident, accordingly.
Youssef Kamal Mahmoud al-Khatib (Hamas)
A tribute video shared on Telegram on September 26, 2026 that was dedicated to a person who was seemingly unrelated to this incident included footage of someone identified as Youssef al-Khatib at timestamp 01:25. The individual presented a likeness to Youssef Kamal Mahmoud al-Khatib, who was recorded as killed in this incident and was named by the IDF as a targeted militant. However, the clip showed only the side profile of the individual captioned as "Youssef al-Khatib", making it not entirely clear whether the individual pictured is the same individual recorded as killed in this incident. Without confirmation, Youssef Kamal Mahmoud al-Khatib was recorded as a civilian.
On October 17, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Hamas' armed wing, Al-Qessam Brigades, published a tribute to Youssef Kamal al-Khatib, identifying him as a militant. As such, Airwars updated Youssef Kamal’s status from civilian to militant and changed the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident accordingly.
Time of the strike
The local time of the incident was before 1:50 pm according to the Palestinian Press Agency Safa. Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights in Gaza also mentioned this time, adding that the attack coincided with a large gathering in the schoolyard as food was being distributed to the displaced families sheltered there. A Palestinian journalist and Al Jazeera reporter Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) reported the incident at 1:12 PM and shared a video filmed by him where people are seen frantically running around the place of the attack and screaming, while some tents were on fire, there were traces of blood on the pavement and two people were lying on the ground – not clear whether they were killed or injured.
At 1:30 PM Anas Al-Sharif reported on Twitter/X that the preliminary toll was 22 deaths and dozens of injured civilians. He shared a number of graphic images showing wounded men lying on a wooden carriage, the body of a male child lying on a marble pavement, bodies in white shrouds on the ground, and a burning tent.
According to another Twitter/X post by Anas Al-Sharif at 2:20 PM, fires were still burning in the Abu Hussein School shelter due to the Civil Defense’s inability to reach it as a result of the repeated shelling by Israeli artillery on the school. At 2:19 PM Al Jazeera Arabic reported that the death toll reached 25 civilians.
Number of strikes
The director of ambulance and emergency services in Northern Gaza, whose words were reported by Facebook user al-Amro and tweeted by al-Hakim, confirmed that the school suffered a double strike and described critical shortages in medical specialties due to the ongoing 13-day siege, which has prevented essential supplies from reaching the area, further worsening the situation with many wounded unlikely to survive to their injuries. Moreover, he recounted scenes of wounded children lying on the floor of the overwhelmed Kamal al-Adwan Hospital due to the lack of beds. These images were also captured in a video by al-Aqsa TV. The healthcare official also said that most of the victims of the “massacre” were in critical condition, and some of the martyrs were dismembered.
Media from the strike
A graphic video shared by Mohammad Al-Qannas on Facebook showed the bodies of two male children who had been killed in the attack.
Other videos and images circulating online showed the destruction left by the attack, with people bidding farewell to the victims and a tent, made of cloth and wood, burning. Al-Jazeera Arabic affirmed that young men struggled to rescue residents from the tents and extinguish the fires using basic, improvised tools, due to the shortage of water. “No water to put out the fire!” screamed a young man while documenting the subsequent moments of the attack.
Reconciling names
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.
Strike type
The sources were conflicting on the nature of the declared Israeli strike. While most of the sources claimed that this had been an artillery strike, Hafid Gougua wrote that “Israeli tanks advanced around the Six Martyrs Junction and committed a massacre by shelling the tents of the displaced in the Abu Hussein School shelter.”