11 killed, including children, in Israeli strike on Gaza family minibus

By Paula Bernabéu

Jerusalem, Oct 18 (EFE).— Gaza’s Civil Defense said Saturday that 11 members of a displaced family were killed when the Israeli army bombed a minibus in southern Gaza City, including two children whose bodies remain unrecovered.

“Our teams recovered nine bodies, including four children and three women. Meanwhile, the bodies of two children remain missing,” Civil Defense said in a statement, confirming the final toll after earlier reports fluctuated between 10 and 11.

“Their bodies are torn apart and dogs have eaten much of them,” spokesperson Mahmud Basal told EFE via text message.

Rescuers also found the body of a small child cut in two at the scene, in the Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City.

The Al Ahli Baptist Hospital received the nine bodies and one injured survivor, Civil Defense added.

All the victims belonged to the Shaaban family, who were traveling to inspect their home in Zeitoun after being displaced by the Israeli offensive.

The dead included Sufyan Shaaban and his wife Samar Muhammad Nasser Shaaban, with their children Karam (10), Anas (8) and Nismah (12); and the couple Ihad Muhammad Nasser Abu Shaaban (38) and Randa Majed Muhammad Abu Shaaban (36), with their children Nasser (13), Jumana (10), Ibrahim (6) and Muhammad (5).

Witnesses at Al Ahli Hospital described the horrific condition of the bodies. “Only half of Ibrahim is here. The rest of Ibrahim is in Ihad’s bag. Meanwhile, Jumana is missing,” a man told a crowd gathered around the shrouded remains.

The family’s vehicle was reportedly struck after crossing what the Israeli army calls the “yellow line,” an internal demarcation to which troops were ordered to withdraw under the current ceasefire.

When asked about the attack, the Israeli military told EFE the minibus had appeared “suspicious” and that troops first fired “warning shots.”

When the vehicle continued advancing, it was deemed “an imminent threat” and targeted with artillery fire.

The army has not commented further since the victims’ identities became known.

Although the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas covers the entire Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on civilians who crossed the “yellow line,” citing self-defense.

Gaza authorities said Israel has violated the ceasefire 47 times since it began, killing 38 people, most in incidents near the demarcation zone.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that the army would physically mark the “yellow line” so civilians can see it.

Asked if that had already been done in Zeitoun, the military declined to respond and referred questions to the Defense Ministry.

Civil Defense teams were unable to reach the bombing site for nearly 24 hours and had to coordinate their movement through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to avoid being targeted themselves. EFE

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