Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

Belligerent
Palestinian Militants
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

PALIS028

Incident date

May 18, 2021

Location

جنوب اسرائيل, Ohad, Israel

Geolocation

31.237596, 34.431781 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two Thai nationals were killed, and as many as 20 people injured, when a rocket reportedly fired by the Al-Qassam Brigades struck an agricultural packaging plant in the town of Ohad, in southern Israel on May 18th, 2021, according to local reports.

The Al Qassam Brigade released a statement claiming responsibility for the strike in their Telegram channel: “The missile strike, which led to the death of 2 and the wounding of 20 others, was directed by the Al-Qassam Brigades towards the “Ohad” moshav within the Mtiftim complex in the Eshkol Regional Council, in which Q20 missiles were used.”

Two foreign workers, Weerawat Karunborirak, 44, and Sikharin Sangamram, 24, were on a break with colleagues when their residential compound was struck, said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both were killed in the strike.

Police said the strike injured eight others, including one seriously and one moderately, according to the Time of Israel. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said the injured were transferred to Soroka Hospital by ambulance and helicopter. Images published by Ynet show that at least one woman was among the injured. On May 21st, 2021 the Bangkok Post reported that one man, Attarachai Thamkaew, 28, was still in hospital following the incident.

Weerawat Karunborirak arrived in Israel in 2018 with the intention of earning enough money to build a home for his family in Thailand, the construction of which ended before he had a chance to live in it, reported the Bangkok Post. Mr Karunborirak’s wife said her husband would call home twice a day, when he did not call on Tuesday she became worried and subsequently learned of his death through a friend. “I was shocked and I am still confused. I really don’t know what to do,” Ms Ruenrat told the Post.

Sikharin Sangamram, a husband and father of four, had recently arrived in the country; he had worked at the plant in Ohad for three days before he was killed, reported Haaretz.

A spokesperson for the Eshkol Regional Council said the workers had had access to a portable domed bomb shelter but had chosen not to use it, while Haaretz reported the shelters provided were too small to accommodate all of the workers on the site. Walla News quoted a Thai worker, interviewed by the BBC, who said that prior to the strike there had been no warning alarm.

The strike is believed to have taken place at noon.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Weerawat Karunborirak
44 years old male killed
Sikharin Sangamram
24 years old male killed
Attarachai Thamkaew
28 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • ashkubit.com Rescue Union spokesperson via [ashkubit.com]
  • Weerawat Karunborirak's widow is seen with a pictures of her late husband. Image courtesy of Ynet
  • People wounded in the rocket strike on Ohad arrive at Soroka Hospital (Photo: Herzl Yosef visa Ynet)
  • The scene of the strike (Photo: AP via Ynet)
  • Relatives of the two workers killed by a rocket in Moshav Ohad hold their pictures. From Thailand's state television Footage Photograph: Thai PBS World
  • The Q20 missile that was used in the Qassam missile strike on the Moshav "Ohad" within the Muftahim compound in the Eshkol Regional Council, which led to the killing of 2 and the wounding of 20 others. (Image posted by @amansouraja)
  • Damage to vehicles and fire caused by Qassam missile strike on the Moshav "Ohad" within the Muftahim compound in the Eshkol Regional Council. (Image posted by @Abu_Obeida0)
  • The moment the #Qassam Brigades were targeted with missiles, the settlement of Ohad, in the Mfathim complex
  • This led to the death of 2 and the wounding of 20.. The Qassam missile strike with Q20 rockets on Moshav “# Ohad” in the Miftaim complex in Eshkol, which is about 10 km from the fleeting wire
  • #See It led to the killing of 2 and wounding of 20.. The Qassam missile strike with Q20 missiles on the Moshav "Ohad" in the Mtifhim complex in Ashkol, which is about 10 km from the fleeting wire

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ohad (אוהד), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.237596, 34.431781. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    2
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    20

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

13:32
The missile strike, which led to the death of 2 and the wounding of 20 others, was directed by the Al-Qassam Brigades towards the "Ohad" moshav within the Mtiftim complex in the Eshkol Regional Council, in which Q20 missiles were used.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (49) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS011

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Israel, Israel

Geolocation

31.667186, 34.557510 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two women were killed when a Hamas militant rocket struck an apartment building on Sderot David Ben Gurion street in the city of Ashkelon, southern Israel on May 11th, 2021, according to several sources.

The Times of Israel said, “the deadly rocket attack directly struck a home where an elderly woman and her caregiver, 32-year-old Soumya Santosh, lived. Santosh was killed while her elderly charge, 80, was hospitalized in serious condition, according to Hebrew media reports”.

On February 6, 2022, the elderly woman injured in the attack, Naomi Perlman, a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor who was seriously wounded at her Ashkelon home by shrapnel, died from her injuries.

According to several sources Santosh from Kerala had been living in Israel for seven years. She was survived by a husband and nine-year-old son.

Mrs Santosh’s brother-in-law told The Week India, “she was talking to her husband Santosh over a video call in the evening when the incident took place. My brother heard a huge sound during the video call. Suddenly the phone got disconnected. Then we immediately contacted fellow Malayalees working there. Thus, we came to know about the incident.”

The Washington Post reported that Naomi Pearlman was a “a Holocaust survivor originally from Poland” and that the blast had caused both of her legs to be amputated. Her son, Shuki, was quoted as saying “She survived the Holocaust, raised a wonderful family. If there was anyone who deserved to be called the ultimate survivor, it was her.”

Jerusalem Post added that Pearlman was being treated at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for the injuries she sustained in May 2021 and that she is survived by her son, her daughter, Tzipi, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, including one who was born last month. At the time of the shelling, her home did not have a shelter and the closest was a minute’s run away.

The incident was part of a series of rocket strikes on the morning of May 11th.
Channel 12 reported that the rocket shelter was at least a minute’s run away from the woman’s home and the did not manage to reach it in time.

Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed they carried out the strikes that resulted in casualties, posting in their Telegram channel that “A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles” and a bit later “The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon.”

The incident is believed to have occurred between 05:00 and 13:40 local time.

The incident occured at approximately 6:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Soumya Santosh
32 years old female killed
Naomi Perlman
91 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This image reportedly shows Sumaya Santosh who died in a strike in Askelon, Israel, on May 11th, 2021 (image via @alqudsnewspaper)
  • Image reportedly showing the son of Soumya Santosh holding a pin of the Israeli and Indian flags at her funeral (image via Asaf Pozailov)
  • Image caption: The damage to the building where the woman who was killed in Ashkelon lived, today the photo (via Ofer Vaknin)
  • Rescue crews helping a victim of the strikes on Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by Arabic RT)
  • Rescue crews at a home affected by airstrikes on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by Shihab Post)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • A heavily damaged house is pictured at a targeted residential neighbourhood in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on May 11, 2021, as rockets are fired by the Hamas movement from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. - Rockets fired from Gaza killed two women in the southern Israeli city of Asheklon, the Magen David Adom emergency service told AFP, after Palestinians militants unleashed a massive barrage. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
  • Israeli security forces at the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on May 11, 2021. Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90
  • A heavily damaged house is pictured at a targeted residential neighbourhood in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on May 11, 2021, as rockets are fired by the Hamas movement from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. - Rockets fired from Gaza killed two women in the southern Israeli city of Asheklon, the Magen David Adom emergency service told AFP, after Palestinians militants unleashed a massive barrage. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an apartment building being struck in Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location of the strike to these exact coordinates: 31.667186, 34.557510.

  • Reports of the incident mention an apartment building being struck in Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Ynet

  • Distribution of tags in available Google Street View imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Maps

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

12:46
A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles

12:58
The enemy admits that a building in Ashkelon was hit and several injuries occurred, including serious cases, as a result of the recent Qassamese bombing with Sejil missiles

13:14
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS010

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Israel

Geolocation

31.666667, 34.566667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One Israeli civilian was killed and as many as seven injured when alleged Hamas militants fired a rocket struck the city of Ashkelon southern Israel on the 11th May, 2021, according to local reports.

Nella Gurevitz (between 52 and 57 years old) was killed and her husband injured, when a rocket reportedly fired by Hamas struck their apartment according to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Israeli media outlet Ynet named Mrs Gurevitz husband as Gregory, and described his injuries as light.

BelarusFeed reported that Nella and her husband were from Belarus and “the mayor’s office also clarified that Nella Gurevich was 57 years old and that the couple immigrated to Israel in 1990. The journalist of the Israel Segodnya newspaper contacted the neighbours of the family, who said that the couple was always friendly with them, but led a rather secluded life, the spouses did not have children. They confirmed that the couple came to Israel from Belarus.”

“I know Nellie as a very sympathetic person, she always tried to support me and other people. We shared interests in music, we both once graduated from a music school. It was a shock for me to find out that she was dead, I will miss her,” said Nella’s friend Anna Litrovnik.

As many as five other people were lightly injured by shrapnel, according to Haaretz.

Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed they carried out the strikes that resulted in casualties, posting in their Telegram channel that “A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles” and a bit later “The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nella Gurevitz
52 years old female killed
Gregory
male Husband of Nella injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Nella Gurevitz (52) of Ashkelon, was killed in the Hamas rocket attack on Ashkelon May 11, 2021. She was in her apartment together with her husband when a rocket hit her building. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city Ashkelon (عسقلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.666667, 34.566667. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

12:46
A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles

12:58
The enemy admits that a building in Ashkelon was hit and several injuries occurred, including serious cases, as a result of the recent Qassamese bombing with Sejil missiles

13:14
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS024

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

رمات غان, Ramat Gan, Israel

Geolocation

32.081325, 34.818636 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 55-year-old man was killed, and six others wounded when a rocket fired from Gaza struck the Ramat Gan neighbourhood of Tel Aviv in the early afternoon on May 15th, 2021, according to local and international media reports. Al Qassam claimed responsibility for the attack.

The man was named as Gershon Franco by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which added that he was laid to rest at the Yarn cemetery in Petah Tikva.  On May 28th, 2021 Haaretz reported that Mr Franco had died as a result of wounds to his upper body and neck.

Magen David Adom paramedic, Lior Mermelstein, told Walla News: “When we arrived at the scene, we saw destruction and damage to buildings on the street. We went from door to door with large MDA forces and conducted searches in the apartments, in one of which we located a 50-year-old man unconscious. We performed medical tests to give him medical treatment, but after the resuscitation operations he was pronounced dead.” @Mdais also added that the six people who were injured had “light” injuries.

An article by the Dhi Qar Agency describes four holes in the door of Gershon apartment from the shrapnel that resulted in his death. Channel 12 news reported that the man did not have a protected area in his home and was unable to reach a bomb shelter in time.

Haaretz provided information about the victim, Gershon, that he was sick with cancer and was deemed 100% disabled. At one point, his federal allowance was not enough and he was homeless until his friends found him the apartment he was killed in, referred to as a “shack”, which was previously used for storing tools.

Naftali Cohen, Franco’s friend, told Haaretz, “He lived in it only because he didn’t want to sleep on the street. At least he had a shower and a bed – the rest we were able to arrange. He didn’t interest the welfare authorities. He appealed to them a million times. I told him we would go to the Housing Ministry and he said, ‘Naftali, help me. I have no strength to fight.’ No one listened to him.”

The mayor of Ramat Gan, Carmel Shama HaCohen, told Ynet that “if that resident had followed the Home Front Command’s instructions, even though he did not have a security guard in his housing unit, he would have survived.” However, his sister refuted this claim, saying that “He was 100% disabled with many medical problems, including severe leg pain, and they may have prevented him from running to the shelter during the alarm yesterday. No one cared what he was dealing with.”

According to the Jewish News Syndicate “a rocket landed in the middle of an adjacent street, causing serious damage to surrounding storefronts and dozens of apartments. The blast also caused a car parked on the street to go up in flames”. @Istanbultelaviv added that the rocket attack led 48 families to evacuate to hotels.

Al Qassam claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, posting in their Telegram channel at 11:29 that “Al-Qassam Brigades is now launching a missile strike on Tel Aviv with dozens of missiles in response to the Shati refugee camp massacre against women, children and the safe” and by 12:17 posted that “the enemy admits the killing of an occupier, the wounding of others, and the infliction of great damage in the recent Qassam bombing of Tel Aviv”.

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

Gershon Franco
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (37) [ collapse]

  • Translated caption reads: This is what the rockets did, and the attack in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv today (via @ShehabAgency)
  • Image shows damage caused by a rocket attack on May 15th, 2021. A man died in the incident (image via @ShehabAgency)
  • A man was killed in the Ramat Gan neighbourhood of Tel Aviv after a rocket struck the area. Image shows some of the damage (image via @ShehabAgency)
  • Image shared in relation to the May 15th, 2021 rocket attack in a Tel Aviv neighbourhood (image via @MohamdNashwan)
  • Rocket attack caused damage in a Tel Aviv neighbourhood. A 55-year-old man identified as Gershon Franco was killed and six others injured (image via @MohamdNashwan)
  • Fires can be seen in the image which was shared in relation to a rocket attack in an Israeli neighbourhood on May 15th, 2021. The neighbourhood sustained damage as a result, a civilian man was killed and up to six civilians injured (image via @qudsn)
  • Translated caption reads: #Photo of the great damage to an apartment in Ramat Gan due to the rockets and missiles fired from Gaza (image via @PalinfoAr)
  • Image appears to show a body covered in material. Shared in relation to the rocket attack in Ramot Gan on May 15th, 2021 that killed Gershon Franco (image via Walid Mohammed Al Hasan)
  • Image caption reads: Got up to my apartment roof where Israeli media are shooting live scenes of the devastation from the Gaza rocket that slammed into the middle of the street in Ramat Gan, killing a 50-year-old man (image via @JoshMarks78)
  • Image caption reads: You can see the strength of the rocket that hit Ramat Gan killing a 55-year old man. 48 families were evacuated to hotels. The rocket hit in middle of the road (via @Istanbultelaviv)
  • A rocket fired from Gaza struck the Ramat Gan neighbourhood of Tel Aviv in the early afternoon on May 15th, 2021. Image shows some of the damage (image via @Stone_SkyNews)
  • Image from the Ramat Gan neighbourhood where a rocket struck killing a civilian and injuring six others (image via @Stone_SkyNews)
  • Image showing the funeral of Gershon Franco who was killed in a May 15th, 2021 rocket attack in Ramot Gan. Caption reads: Four holes in the wooden door to his flat mark where shrapnel from a Hamas rocket hit Gershon Franco’s home & killed him (image via @patrickkingsley)
  • Image shows damage caused by a rocket attack on May 15th, 2021. A man died in the incident (image via @ShehabAgency)
  • Rockets launched from Gaza struck buildings around Ramat Gan in Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @MohamdNashwan)
  • Rescue crews work to put out fires caused by strikes on Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @qudsn)
  • Rescue crews at the scene of strikes on Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Rescue crews at the scene of strikes on Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Rescue crews at the scene of strikes on Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @AlarabyTV)
  • Image appears to show a funeral. Shared in relation to the rocket attack in Ramot Gan on May 15th, 2021 that killed Gershon Franco (image via Walid Mohammed Al Hasan)
  • Rescue crews at the scene of strikes on Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by Dhi Qar Agency)
  • MDA medics are responding to rocket which fell in central Israel Ramat Gan which struck a residential area. (Image posted by @Mdais)
  • MDA medics are responding to rocket which fell in central Israel Ramat Gan which struck a residential area. (Image posted by @Mdais)
  • MDA medics are responding to rocket which fell in central Israel Ramat Gan which struck a residential area. (Image posted by @Mdais)
  • Cleaning up damage from rocket that fell on Ramat Gan just outside Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @Stone_SkyNews)
  • Cleaning up damage from rocket that fell on Ramat Gan just outside Tel Aviv on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by Walla News)
  • Gershon Franco, in his 50s, was killed in Hamas rocket attacks on Ramat Gan on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • The "shack" that Gershon Franco lived in when he was killed by shrapnel from a rocket on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by Haaretz)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Ramat Gan (רמת גן) neighbourhood of Tel Aviv (תל אביב). Analyzing visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 32.081325, 34.818636.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Ramat Gan (רמת גן) neighbourhood of Tel Aviv (תל אביב).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Image from Google Street view matches those from sources.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    6

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

11:29
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades is now launching a missile strike on Tel Aviv with dozens of missiles in response to the Shati refugee camp massacre against women, children and the safe.

11:58
The effects of the Qassam bombing on the Ramat Gan area in Tel Aviv

12:12
Al-Qassam Brigades renews its shelling of Tel Aviv with a missile launch

12:17
The enemy admits the killing of a rapist, the wounding of others, and the infliction of great damage in the recent Qassam bombing of Tel Aviv

Media
from belligerent (2) [ collapse]

  • "The effects of the Qassam bombing on the Ramat Gan area in Tel Aviv" (Image posted by Al Qassam on Telegram)
  • "The effects of the Qassam bombing on the Ramat Gan area in Tel Aviv" (Image posted by Al Qassam on Telegram)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS030

Incident date

May 19, 2021

Location

سديروت, Sderot, Israel

Geolocation

31.522778, 34.595278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five rockets were fired by Al Qassam into the city of Sderot, injuring at least two civilians on May 19, 2021. Al Qassam confirmed that they had attacked the city of Sderot that day.

The rockets reportedly caused damage to several buildings and cars, according to multiple sources. It was reported that either two or three of the rockets directly hit buildings.

The two civilians were reported injured when one of the rockets hit their house whilst they were in the basement with their family. Those injured were a 65 year old man who sustained minor injuries and a 72 year old man who sustained a head injury. According to two sources the 65 year old was treated at the scene, whilst the 72 year old was taken to Barzilai Hospital. One source also reported that a number of civilians experienced anxiety in relation to the attack.

MDA paramedic Alex Kosinov said: “The wounded man was with his family in the basement of the house that was hit by the RCC. We were told that the force of the hit and the blow fell.”

Whilst the majority of sources reported the weaponry used as rockets, three sources claimed that a rocket propelled grenade was used. Multiple sources reported that the attack caused the electricity to cut out.

No sources reported the time of the incident, although the MDA reported that the injured were treated within the window of 12.00am and 9.55pm.

Al Qassam posted on their Telegram channel at 15:47 and 17:25 that the “Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped “Sderot” with a missile launch” and later posted that “The enemy admits that there were injuries, direct damage to a building, and power outages after the recent Qassam bombing of the usurped “Sderot”.

The incident occured between 1:47 pm and 5:25 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Site where a Palestinian rocket directly penetrated a building in Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via PalastineNow)
  • Damage to a building hit by a Palestinian rocket in Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via Shihab)
  • Car damaged by a Palestinian rocket that hit Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via Shihab)
  • Car damaged by a Palestinian rocket that hit Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via Shihab)
  • A man who appears to be from the Home Front Command shines a torch in front of a building hit by a Palestinian rocket in Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via Srugim)
  • Car damaged by a Palestinian rocket that hit Sderot on May 19 2021 (image via Aqsa)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sderot (שדרות), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.522778, 34.595278 Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

19 May 2021
17:25
Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped "Sderot" with a missile launch

15:47
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades bombard the usurped "Sderot" with a missile launch

17:34
The enemy admits that there were injuries, direct damage to a building, and power outages after the recent Qassam bombing of the usurped "Sderot"

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS033

Incident date

May 20, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Israel

Geolocation

31.666667, 34.566667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A rocket fired by Al Qassam directly hit a home in Ashkelon, injuring two civilians and causing damage to the building and surrounding area.

Al Qassam claimed responsibility for the attack in a Telegram post that stated at 12:59 “Al-Qassam Brigades bombard occupied Ashkelon with a missile launch” and added at 13:18 “The enemy admits that a [settler] was injured and a building was damaged after the last Qassam bombing of Ashkelon”.

The injured were reported by multiple sources as a 32 year old male victim who was hit on the head by shrapnel whilst inside the house struck by the missile, and a 26 year old male victim who was moderately injured by shards of glass. Both were reportedly taken to Barzilai Hospital for treatment.

The exact time of the incident was not reported, although an MDA tweet published at 3.21pm local time claimed that ‘following the alarms that were sounded in the last minutes in the Ashkelon sector’ the 26 year old injured civilian was taken to Barzilai Hospital.

The incident occured at approximately 4:21 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by strikes on Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @mL5tf8Rs4role)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @mL5tf8Rs4role)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @mL5tf8Rs4role)
  • A picture of the house that was hit directly in Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Lamapal1948)
  • A picture of the house that was hit directly in Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by Saleh via Facebook)
  • A picture of the house that was hit directly in Ashkelon on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by Moaz7 via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashkelon (אשקלון), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.666667, 34.566667. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

12:59
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades bombard occupied Ashkelon with a missile launch

13:18
The enemy admits that a [settler] was injured and a building was damaged after the last Qassam bombing of Ashkelon

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0121

Incident date

October 11, 2023

Location

الشيخ رضوان, Sheikh Radwan, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.536752, 34.465399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reportedly killed on Radwan street on October 11th 2023, her son, an Egyptian citizen from Cairo, Abdullah Mohammed Fares, was injured in the incident alongside his children.

Fares had arrived in Gaza a week prior to visit his wife’s family. He has since been campaigning for the Egyptian government to secure his return to Egypt.

In a video statement, Abdullah mentions that his family was living on Radwan Street when the strike occurred.

No further information was available on the names of Abdullah’s family members and how many of his children were injured, which has been quantified as 2 until further information comes to light.

None of the sources mentioned who was responsible and anything about the munitions used, with many of the sources reflecting circular reporting. Airwars has upgraded the incident as “contested” until further information comes to light.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Abdullah Mohammed Fares عبد الله محمد مصلح أحمد
Adult male injured
Child of Abdullah Mohammed Fares
Child injured
Child of Abdullah Mohammed Fares
Child injured
Mother of Abdullah Mohammed Fares
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sheikh Radwan (الشهداء), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.536752, 34.465399. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0175

Incident date

October 13, 2023

Location

شارع صلاح الدين والرشيد، بين دوار الدولة ودوار الكويت, Salah Al Din and Al Rashid streets, between the State Roundabout and the Kuwait Roundabout, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.483334, 34.445044 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15:30 and 17:20 on Friday October 13th 2023, at least 12 civilians, including three women and three children, were killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes and/or artillery strikes. The strikes hit a convoy of citizens fleeing northern Gaza after instructions from the Israeli military to evacuate. Some reports said the number of civilians killed might be more than 70, with at least 150 and up to more than 200 civilians reported injured, including many displaced women, children and elderly people. Airwars was able to identify at least 12 victims killed by name.

According to an investigation carried out by the Financial Times and Airwars, the deadly explosions took place between the State Roundabout and the Kuwait Roundabout near the Bassem Aliwa Steel Company building. The incident occurred the day after Israel told more than one million civilians living in northern Gaza to flee south for their own safety.

A forensic review of the visual material by the FT/Airwars found that the explosions did not hit the truck carrying a large group of Palestinian civilians directly but a group of cars nearby, with the shrapnel likely responsible for the deaths of the majority of the fleeing civilians – who were seated on an uncovered truck.

Israel denied striking the street and suggested Hamas may have planted explosive devices along the evacuation route. Military analysts consulted by the Financial Times and Airwars said the shrapnel appeared consistent with an Israeli strike.

Palestine Alarabiya and Saddam Souad shared gruesome videos on Facebook showing the direct aftermath of the attack – burned cars and dead bodies lying on the ground amidst blood. Financial Times and Airwars Investigations wrote that videos of the aftermath verified by the media showed 12 bodies of men, women and children in Salah-ad-Din street, which Israel later designated a “safe route”. The media outlet also wrote that there were probably two explosions, one of which damaged an ambulance as it attempted to leave the scene with some of the injured.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed that “large numbers” of dead and wounded, including women and children, had arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Initially Almamlakah TV reported about 40 civilians killed and more than 150 civilians injured, but later the government media office spoke about a higher death toll of 70 victims killed and more than 200 injured in its press statement. Shehab Agency reported about the “death of more than 70 Palestinians and the injury of hundreds.”

Many victims of this attack remained unidentified. Palestinian Media Center shared the images of its crews performing funeral prayers for the unidentified deceased Palestinian civilians over the bodies wrapped in white cloth stained with blood.

Based on Facebook testimonies by family members, Airwars has identified 12 victims killed in the strike.

The deadly attack took the life of the wife of journalist Sameh Murad and injured a number of his family members. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate extended its condolences to the colleague, who worked with Al Arabiya channel and remained at work to cover the events of the subsequent Israeli invasion of Al-Shifa Hospital.

The Amara family lost six family members, according to a Facebook post by Mahmoud Amara. A family relative Ahmad Amara shared that he lost his sisters, 24-year old Hanan Ayman Abdel Karim ‘Amara and 25-year old Safaa Hasan Muhammad ‘Amara, Hanan’s children and her fiance, and her fiance’s brother – 26-year old Adham Ayman Muhammad ‘Amara. Abu Mohammed Alfaran mourned the death of his cousins, Adham Amara and a 25-year old Muhammad Ayman Muhammad ‘Amara. Two young men were featured in the pictures attached to his Facebook post.

Youssef Atef Dabbour Asad mourned the death of his father, his brother Mohammad Dabbour Asad and his nephew Atef Dabbour Asad.

Among the victims of the attack was also “the polite young man”, Ismail Muhammad Al-Taweel, remembered in a tribute by Taweel and Shaar Ffamily on Facebook.

There were also victims killed from the Lanoush family. A heartfelt Facebook testimony by Lanoush Lanoush said”: “My uncle, my cousin, his wife, and my cousin were martyred, and their two sons were seriously injured, and they are in intensive care on their way to Salah al-Din.” However, Airwars did not find names and additional information about these victims.

Where possible, names of the victims have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, most sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. In particular, BBC news and the Financial Times reported that based on video footage, the explosions were most likely caused by strikes launched by the Israeli military.

Financial Times carried out its own investigation in conjunction with Airwars, quoting a munition expert Desmond Travers who had investigated attacks across the globe including in Gaza. According to him, the attack was most probably carried out with a “precision-guided shrapnel-delivered missile”. He added: “There could have been several of them to create the effect I am seeing on the videos. If that is the case, then the attack would have been carried out by the Israelis.” However, Travers did not exclude the possibility of an improvised explosive device (IED) on the site being used. A spokesperson for the Israeli military, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, however, denied the allegations and stated that “Hamas is behind this, is using the death of Palestinian civilians for its vile political purposes”.

According to the investigation carried out by Al-Arabi Open Source Investigations Unit, the attack happened around three o’clock in the afternoon. The BBC investigation ascertained that the incident happened between 15:30 and 17:20 local time.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured between 3:30 pm and 5:20 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Hanan Ayman Abdel Karim 'Amara حنان عمارة
25 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 404759433
Safaa Hasan Muhammad 'Amara صفاء عمارة
24 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 404116071
Child of Hanan Ayman Abdel Karim 'Amara
Child killed
Child of Hanan Ayman Abdel Karim 'Amara
Child killed
Fiance of Hanan Ayman Abdel Karim 'Amara
Adult male killed
Adham Ayman Muhammad 'Amara ادهم عمارة
26 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 403058464
Muhammad Ayman Muhammad 'Amara محمد عمارة
25 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 404119117

Family members (3)

Mohammad Dabbour Asad محمد دبور اسعد
male killed
Atef Dabbour Asad عاطف دبور اسعد
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424586741
Father of Youssef Atef Dabbour Asad
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

wife of journalist Sameh Murad زوجة سامح مراد
Adult female killed
Ismail Muhammad Al-Taweel اسماعيل محمد الطويل
44 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 901458349

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 71
  • (3 children3 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    150–201
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (26) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: AJA Mubasher facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Taweel and Shaar family facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef Atef Dabbour Asad facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef Atef Dabbour Asad facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Mohammed Alfaran facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Mohammed Alfaran facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Media Center facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Media Center facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Media Center facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestinian Media Center facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Financial Times News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Financial Times News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention vehicles struck on the Salah Al Din (صلاح الدين) highway, to the south of Gaza city (غزة). The Financial Times, in collaboration with Airwars, narrowed the location down to an area at the following coordinates: 31.483334, 34.445044.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 71
  • (3 children3 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    150–201
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (28) [ collapse]