The Gaza war has seen multiple reports of entire families killed. According to humanitarian groups and media, such incidents have occurred both in southern Israel, where families were killed by Hamas-led militants during the 7 October 2023 attacks, and in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes and shelling have destroyed family homes.[1] Some scholars and observers have described these patterns as targeting of family units, coining terms such as "kinocide".[2] Others have argued that the cases raise concerns about possible war crimes or genocide, though such characterizations remain legally contested.[3]
As of March 2025, some 2,200 families were wiped from the Gaza Civil Registry, according to the government media office.[4]
Abu Qouta family (Rafah, 7 October 2023)
On 7 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the home of the Abu Qouta family in Rafah, killing up to 27 civilians, including 19 members of the family.[5] The Associated Press reported that 19 relatives from the family were killed, spanning multiple generations.[6]
Al-Mughari family (Bureij, 17 October 2023)
On 17 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike on the Bureij refugee camp killed at least 92 civilians, including dozens of members of the Al-Mughari family.[7] Among the victims were 87-year-old Ramadan al-Mughari, his sons Nayef, Dr. Ahmed, and Nafez, and several grandchildren.[8] The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted Hamas commander Ayman Nofal, who was killed in the same incident.[9]
Al Zaneen family (Izbet Beit Hanoun, 8 October 2023)
On 8 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike struck the house of the Al Zaneen family in Beit Hanoun, killing at least 21 members of the family across three generations.[10] Victims included Jamil Hassan Muhammad Al Zaneen and his wife Salma, their son Dr. Mohammed Jameel Al Zaneen, Hussam Jameel Al Zaneen, Hamza Jameel Al Zaneen, and several children.[8]
Al-Qatnani family (Beit Lahia, 9 October 2023)
On 9 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike struck the al-Qatnani family home in Beit Lahia, killing between 13 and 15 relatives, including women and children.[11] Child rights monitors documented al-Qatnani children among those killed, and human rights groups reported multiple incidents in which entire families were killed in their homes.[12][13]
In December 2023, airstrikes on Deir al-Balah killed members of the Salem family, including children. Humanitarian organization reported more than 170 relatives killed in multiple strikes.[1]
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed multiple members of families bearing the surname Hassouna. On 12 February 2025, 7-year-old Sidra Hassouna was killed in an attack in Gaza along with seven other relatives.[16] In April 2025, Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna was killed in an Israeli airstrike on her home, along with at least 10 of her relatives.[17]
On 29 January 2024, Hind Rajab (5) was killed in Gaza City along with her relatives from her mother's Hamada family, after being trapped in a car hit by Israeli fire.[18]
In 2025, airstrikes in Khan Younis killed nine children from the al-Najjar family, leaving only their mother and one injured sibling surviving.[19]
Mughrabi family (Gaza City, 22 December 2023)
On 22 December 2023, an Israeli airstrike killed Issam al-Mughrabi, a UNDP staff member, his wife Lamia, several of their children, and more than 70 members of his extended family in Gaza City.[20][21][22]
On 11 November 2023, Dr. Hammam Alloh, a physician at al-Shifa Hospital, was killed in an Israeli airstrike along with his wife, children, and father.[23] In the same month, his relatives Razan (12), Nouran (10), and their father Ahmed were killed by a sniper near their home in Gaza City.[24]
Hamas-led militants attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz. Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), were taken hostage, along with their father Yarden.[citation needed] Israeli authorities later announced forensic evidence indicating the family had been killed in Gaza, while Hamas claimed they had died in an Israeli airstrike.[25]
According to Haaretz, Hamas fighters killed Tamar Kedem and Yonatan Siman Tov and their three children, Shahar, Arbel, and Omer, inside their home at Nir Oz kibbutz on 7 October 2023. Yonatan's mother, Carol, was also killed in the attack.[26][27][28][29][30]
In the Kfar Aza kibbutz, Hamas militants killed Aviv and Livnat Kutz along with their three teenaged children.[31][32]
In Lebanon
Gharib family (Tyre, 23 September 2024)
On 23 September 2024, an Israeli airstrike struck the apartment of the Gharib family in the Al-Housh neighborhood of Tyre, southern Lebanon, killing five relatives. The victims were identified as Ahmed Gharib, his wife Hanan Sabra Gharib, and their three daughters Rasha (24), Maya (23), and Nour (20).[33][34] The family was preparing for a wedding when the strike hit. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a Hezbollah site nearby.[35]
On 21 September 2025, an Israeli drone strike destroyed a civilian vehicle in southern Lebanon, killing four members of the Charara family: car dealer Shadi Charara, his twin toddlers Hadi and Silan (18 months), and his daughter Celine (8).[36][37] His wife Amani Bazzi and eldest daughter Asil survived with serious injuries. A motorcyclist passing by, who was coincidentally related to the other four victims, was also killed. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hezbollah operative in the area and acknowledged that civilians had been killed.[38]
Investigations and accountability
Palestinian human rights groups including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor have investigated specific cases of family killings in the Gaza war, which they label as a "family massacre".[39][40] The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has also documented cases of "annihilation" of families.[41] Israel has stated that its strikes target militants and military infrastructure, and that Hamas operates from within civilian areas, placing responsibility for civilian casualties on the group.[42]
Academic researchers have described the phenomenon of entire families being killed as unprecedented in scale.[43] The killing of families across generations by Israel was highlighted specifically in South Africa's International Court of Justice filing accusing Israel of genocide.[44]
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