Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT180325zzb

Incident date

March 18, 2025

Location

منطقة طابة زارع، مدينة رفح, Tabat Zare'i area, Rafah, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.273484, 34.279374 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 18 civilians, including seven children and four women, were reportedly killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Jarghon family home in the Tabat Zarea area east of Rafah at dawn on 18 March, 2025.

72-year-old Eid Mansour Jarghon, was killed with his sons, 38-year-old Jihad Eid Jarghon and 41-year-old Mohammed Eid Jarghon, and daughter, 42-year-old Fidaa Eid Jarghon. Jihad’s wife, 31-year-old Zainab Ziad Jarghon, was killed, along with the couple’s two daughters, six-year-old Fairuz Jihad Jarghon and four-year-old Aylol Jihad Jarghon. Mohammed’s wife, 33-year-old Majdoleen Abu Luli (Jarghon) was also killed. Three of Eid Mansour’s grandchildren were also killed, likely Mohammed’s children: four-year-old Maryam Mohammed Jarghon, three-year-old Bisan Mohammed Jarghon and two-year-old Lian Mohammed Jarghon.

From another unit of the extended Jarghon family, six people were killed. 50-year-old Manar Suleiman Jarghon was killed with his sons, 23-year-old Firas Manar Jarghon, 19-year-old Shadi Manar Jarghon, 16-year-old Mohammed Manar Jarghon and eight-year-old Karam Manar Jarghon. His daughter, 22-year-old Sahar Manar Jarghon, was also killed.

One source, Fares m Eid, also reported the death of an eighteenth relative, Samer Jarghoun. This name was not listed elsewhere, and all other reports stated 17 killed. Samer’s death, Fares wrote, was a “great loss”, one that was “received with deep sadness and sorrow”.

Relatives and friends remembered those killed with “deep sadness”, remarking on the shock of their deaths. This was a “happy family”, Facebook source “Central Region Page” reported, that was now “erased from the civil registry”. The Jarghons existed, user “Voice of Tomorrow Radio” wrote, now only in “memories in the hearts of those who loved them”.

Facebook user Ismail Jarghon Abu Muhammad wrote that his “heart [was] filled with pain and sadness” over the death of Eid and his family. Facebook user A. Ezz El-Din Imad Abu Qurshin remembered Mohammed Eid Jarghon as “one of the most charitable and smiling people”. He was, the source emphasised, “a lighthearted person with a kind and beautiful soul”. He shared a photograph of Mohammed, bearded and wearing a white shirt. Abdelrahman Abunar had similar memories: “We knew you as nothing but a kind and well-mannered person”.

Remembering Majdoleen, Facebook user Al’aa Y. Rayyan wrote that though the two did not often see each other, Majdoleen was “always in [her] heart”.

@MohammedAbuAmr7, a classmate of engineering student Firas Jarghoun, reflected on the suddenness of Firas’ death: he “was asking about a form for his graduation project yesterday”. That he had been killed, along with other friends and neighbours, Mohammed wrote, made his “heart and soul melt”. Yaseen Yousef Al-Husban wrote that though Firas had been killed, his friends would carry his memory and hopes for him: “You departed as a martyr, but your dream remains and will continue with the determination of your colleagues to the eternal gardens”. It is possible Firas was soon to be married: Facebook user Wedad Abudayya wrote that with his death she would “wear the white dress in heaven”.

Also a student, Sahar was remembered as “virtuous and wise”. In photographs attached to a memorial post, she can be seen in a lab coat.

Manar Jarghoun was employed at the Rafah Municipality, and remembered by his colleagues. A “loyal” and dutiful worker who aimed to “diligently […] serve [the] city and its people”, Manar was an “example of dedication and devotion”. Attached to the memorial post was a photograph of Manar, sporting a brown polo. Mohammad Abu Qusay, a friend who thought of Manar as a “brother” attached a photograph of Manar with a young boy, likely one of his sons. Subsequent photographs of the children were attached.

Mosab Mohamed Jarghun shared a photograph of a man and his two daughters: Jihad, Fairuz and Aylol, the three are smiling. Both the girls are wearing matching outfits, large flowered headbands on their heads. Eyad Sobhi, sending condolences, remembered Jihad as “virtuous”. Nidaa Um Albaraa remembered her “friend of more than 15 years”, Zainab – or “Zizi” as friends called her – as a “a companion through the bitter and sweet times”. The two friends were supposed to meet, but, as Nidaa remembered, “you left before I saw you”. Lamis Ziad, Zainab’s sister, was distraught: “My dear sister, I swear I can’t believe this news”. As soon as Lamis woke up “to the sound of the bombing” she “started looking for someone with an internet connection to check for news about Rafah”. Her intention was clear: “Just find me Zizi… Call Zizi…”. In life, the sisters had been “linked together in everything”. Now, Lamis wrote, “no one comes to mind but you”. Her death had “shattered” her.

@basil_kh_2016_ remembered Zainab Jarghoun as a “colleague and member of the SYFS Youth Councils”, asking that “God have mercy on her soul”. A photograph of the family shared by Elham Jarghon shows Jihad and Zainab smiling with their daughters at a birthday party for the girls. Lit by the candles on the cake, the girls are wearing matching party dresses; a “3” and “5” are visible behind them, as are photographs of the girls as infants. It was likely their last birthday.

Photographs and video shared of the Jarghon remains underscored the loss: body bags in place of these “virtuous”, “kind” and “dedicated” people. Photographs shared of them in life show vibrancy: large smiles, peace signs, selfies with parents, celebrations.

Facebook user Zyoud Ashour expressed “sincere condolences” to the family but especially to “Commander Ziad Jarghon” for the deaths of his “daughter [Zainab], her husband, and her sons”. While it is possible that the term ‘commander’ here indicates an association with an armed group, this phrase is also often used to suggest deference to an individual with more of a leadership role in a family or community. He was also referenced as a “member of the leadership of the central Khan Yunis region” by Nawal Yehia Ferwana. With this ambiguity, Airwars has categorised Ziad as a civilian until further information comes to light.

Journalist Mohammed Nabil Abu Armana, in a video showing volunteers taking bodies from under rubble, reported that the strike took place at Street 18 in the Al Janina neighbourhood, rather than in the Tabat Zarea area.

A funeral for the family was held in absentia at the mosque of the University of Brawijaya, in Indonesia.

Where possible, names have been reconciled with the eights Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities released on March 24, 2025, which related to those killed between October 7, 2023 and March 23, 2025.

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (18)

Fairuz Jihad Jarghon فيروز جهاد جرغون
6 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 440746964
Aylol Jihad Jarghon أيلول جهاد جرغون
4 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 442962684
Majdoleen Abu Luli مجدولين ابو لولي
33 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 803192798
4 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445065899
Bisan Mohammed Jarghon بيسان محمد جرغون
3 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445409139
Lian Mohammed Jarghon ليان محمد جرغون
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444090971
Manar Suleiman Jarghon منار سليمان جرغون
50 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 900173428
23 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 407785443
19 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 422602375
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426178471
Karam Manar Jarghon كرم منار جرغون
8 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437440126
22 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408137636
Samer Jarghoun جرغون
male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Tabat Zare’i (منطقة طابة زارع) to the east of Rafah (مدينة رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.273484, 34.279374. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (7 children4 women6 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (55) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (55) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Qadeyah1
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @MohammedAbuAmr7
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Mahmoud
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lina Abu Aker
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Jarghon Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Jarghon Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Qusay
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Qusay
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Qusay
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Qusay
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Abu Qusay
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mosab Mohamed Jarghun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah Municipality
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah Municipality
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suliman Raed
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    Source: Suliman Raed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Suliman Raed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: A. Ezz El-Din Imad Abu Qurshin
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nidaa Um Albaraa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Jar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdelrahman Abunar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gigaza Report
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gigaza Report
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gigaza Report
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gigaza Report
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gigaza Report
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Central Region Page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Voice of Tomorrow Radio
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lamis Ziad sister of Zainab Ziad Jarghoun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lamis Ziad sister of Zainab Ziad Jarghoun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lamis Ziad sister of Zainab Ziad Jarghoun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ziad Jarghoun Abu Muhammad
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Awdehchannel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Fouad Al-Lala
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Elham Jarghon
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Joy Kindergarten
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • (7 children4 women6 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (55) [ collapse]