Fatima Zaki Mustafa Al-Ghoul

Their life

Fatima Zaki Mustafa Al-Ghoul was a 39-year-old Palestinian woman from Gaza City. She was married and a mother, known for her deep sense of responsibility toward her family and community. Fatima lived in the Al-Shati (Beach) Refugee Camp, one of the most densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip and home to generations of Palestinians displaced by conflict. Despite the hardship and instability that surrounded her, Fatima was described by those who knew her as a compassionate and strong woman who remained steadfast in the face of adversity.

On October 28, 2023, Fatima's life was violently cut short when Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on the Al-Ghoul family’s multi-story home in Al-Shati Camp. The home had become a refuge for displaced relatives and neighbors seeking shelter from the ongoing bombardment. The strike came without prior warning and destroyed the building entirely, killing Fatima along with dozens of others — including women, children, and elderly family members. The Israeli military later

Fatima was part of a large extended family deeply rooted in Gaza City. Her days were spent caring for her children, managing her home, and offering support to relatives during difficult times. In Gaza, where infrastructure is fragile and daily life is often marked by shortages and danger, women like Fatima play a central role in holding families together. She was known for her warmth, her strength under pressure, and her ability to comfort others, even when she herself was struggling.

As the war escalated in late October 2023, Fatima, like many others, opened her home to relatives displaced from other parts of Gaza. The Al-Ghoul family house, long a symbol of family resilience and community care, became a crowded but vital sanctuary. Fatima was reportedly inside with family and guests — including several children — when the missile struck. The blast leveled the structure, reducing it to rubble.

Fatima’s death devastated those who survived the attack and sent shockwaves through the wider community. Her name

How they died

Killed by Israel airstrike

Fatima Zaki Mustafa Al-Ghoul, a 39-year-old Palestinian woman, was killed on October 28, 2023, during an Israeli airstrike that targeted her family's multi-story residential building in the Al-Shati (Beach) Refugee Camp in Gaza City. The airstrike occurred without prior warning, resulting in the complete destruction of the building and the deaths of Fatima along with numerous family members, including women and children. The Al-Ghoul family home had been sheltering displaced relatives and neighbors seeking refuge from the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have acknowledged conducting airstrikes in the area but have not provided specific details regarding the targeting of the Al-Ghoul family home. Human rights organizations have documented instances where Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in significant civilian casualties, raising concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Fatima's death underscores the severe impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children. Her family's home had become a refuge for those seeking safety from the ongoing bombardment, yet it became the site of a tragic loss. The incident highlights the urgent need for the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian laws in conflict zones.

A plea from the family

In the wake of the airstrike that killed Fatima Zaki Mustafa Al-Ghoul and dozens of her family members on October 28, 2023, surviving relatives have expressed their overwhelming grief and issued desperate pleas for justice and protection. Though Fatima herself can no longer speak, the pain of her absence is carried by those who lived through the bombing and now face the agonizing task of burying loved ones and rebuilding shattered lives. "Fatima was not a fighter. She was a mother. She was preparing food for the children when the missile struck," said one surviving relative, whose voice trembled with disbelief. "We found her body next to her youngest son. They didn’t even have time to run." "We begged for protection, for safe corridors, but no one heard us," a cousin of Fatima cried during the funeral procession. "How can the world see this and say nothing? Fatima opened her home to everyone—her kindness was her only weapon." "The house was full of women and children. They knew this. Still, they bombed it.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Fatima Zaki Mustafa Al-Ghoul, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources