The aftermath of the Israeli airstrike on the Abu Malhous al-Sawarka home in Deir Al-Balah that killed eight members of the same family, mainly women and children. (WAFA IImages)

GAZA, Thursday, November 14, 2019 (WAFA) - According to a preliminary investigation by the Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 12:25 after midnight local time, Israeli warplanes fired four missiles at two tin houses in al-Baraka area in Deir al-Balah, one owned by Rasmi Salem Odeh al-Sawarka (Abu Malhous), 45, and the other by his brother, Mohammad, 40.

As a result, the two houses were destroyed and their residents were buried under them, killing Rasmi, his wife and three of their children, while his brother Mohammed was seriously injured, but his wife and two of their children were killed, while 13 others, including 11 children, were injured.

Ambulances and the Civil Defense rushed to the scene in about 10 minutes after the attack after which digging and searching for the residents of the two houses under the rubble began. Six bodies and 13 injured were recovered and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. At approximately 07:00 am. Local time, residents recovered the bodies of two children.

The dead were:

Rasmi Salem Odeh al-Sawarka, 45;

Mariam Salem Nasser al-Sawarka, 33;

Yusra Mohammed Awad al-Sawarka, 39;

Wassim Mohammed Salem al-Sawarka, 13;

Muhannad Rasmi Salem al-Sawarka, 12;

Muath Mohammed Salem al-Sawarka, 7;

Firas Rasmi Salem al-Sawarka, 2; and

Salem Rasmi Salem al-Sawarka, 3.

M.K.