On Thursday, August 1st, 2024, at least three civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Israeli bombardment in the Bir Canada area of Rafah. A fourth man, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was also killed.

The deceased were named as 21-year-old Karam Kamal Nasr, 30-year-old Saleh Akram al-Mughair, and Ali Abu Younis. While sources agreed on the deaths of these four men, one source, Nofal al-Akhras, claimed that a fifth man, Salah Abu Hilal, was also killed. While it is possible this was a second name for Saleh Akram al-Mughair, it is unlikely, as al-Mughair’s patronymic was “Abu Abdo.” No other source mentioned Salah Abu Hilal.

When Airwars first published this incident on October 24, 2024, no open sources were found to suggest that 28-year-old Muhammad Khader Awad as a militant. As such, Muhammad was recorded as a civilian. This was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status‘. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.

However, on June 18, 2026, sarayamirror, a Telegram account associated with PIJ, posted a tribute to Muhammad Khader Awad, naming him as a militant. As such, his civilian status has been updated to militant, and the minimum number of civilians recorded as killed in this incident was changed from four to three.

Several sources on Twitter/X and Facebook reported that the incident occurred when the victims were inspecting the destruction of their houses, damaged in previous strikes. This was corroborated by Mohammad al-Najjar, who wrote that Saleh, Karam and Ali knew each other as they had been displaced together and decided to return to check on the homes they had fled from. A video posted to social media and subsequently shared by the Facebook page of al-Jazeera Egypt purported to document “the moment he was targeted.” The video, captured by Saleh, showed men walking amongst rubble before a strike occurs.

Family members and friends took to social media to mourn the deceased, sharing pictures and tributes. Many posts highlighted the life of Saleh Akram al-Mughair, who, according to Mohammad Qashta, was a “Bodybuilding champion.” Several photos show Saleh posing in the gym, working out or standing next to motorcycles and cars. On Facebook, All Eyes for Gaza wrote, “My derby companion Saleh Al-Mughir is a martyr, may God have mercy on him. I will miss your laughter every night in Tal Al-Sultan,” sharing a photo of Saleh between two motorbikes. Other tributes, such as one by Omar M. Abu Hany, shared photos of Saleh in a restaurant and sitting in a car with sunglasses. Abu Hamad Al-Mughair wrote, “The eyes are filled with tears and the heart is sad, and I am saddened by your separation…at the news of the martyrdom of my son Saleh Akram Al-Mughir and my daughter’s husband, Ali Abu Yunus,” along with pictures of the two.

Several sources posted a photograph of Saleh holding a machine gun at a gym. No sources, however, alleged militant status, and none claimed he was involved in fighting.

Neighbours and friends also mourned Karam Kamal Nasr. Omar Adwan and Fady Rafat shared the same post on Facebook, stating, “Beloved neighbor, Karam Kamal Nasr, martyr. We belong to God and to Him we shall return,” adding a picture of Karam as a teenager. Anas Abu Ghali shared another picture of Karem smiling in front of a blossoming bush. Other photos by different sources show Karam at an older age, sporting a beard and wearing a checkered sweater. Mahmoud Lafi posted a picture of his “good friend” Karam at his graduation in 2022.

Friends and Family of Muhammad Khader Awad, including Wael H. Awad, Hani Awad, Jihad Awad and Jamal Alajez also posted tributes on Facebook. The Golden Dragon Academy, a martial arts club, shared condolences with the Awad family, posting, “The management of the Golden Dragon Academy, including players and all employees, extends its sincere condolences to the Awad family on the rise of Captain/Muhammad Khadar Awad.” Others, like Muhammed Kh Ashour, shared personal pictures of Muhammad, including moments of them dining at restaurants and posing together, saying he “felt [Muhammad’s] farewell to me in the days that passed.”

Ahmad Abdel Salam also posted photos of the deceased Saleh being transported in a car and Muhammad lying on the ground. Their bodies are wrapped in shrouds, only showing their faces.

Sources diverged on the nature of the attack. While Ameen Sameer suggested on Facebook that the casualties resulted from an aircraft attack, Raya Press Service and Twitter/X user @Sa7atPIBreaking and Raya Press Service specified that the men died as a result of a drone strike. In contrast, Mohammad Nasr Abu Bakr reported on Facebook that his cousin Karam died as a consequence of artillery shelling. All sources that mentioned the location of the incident reported that it occurred in the Bir Canada (Kinda) area in the city of Rafah, with Andalou Agency reporting on Facebook that the victims were recovered from the vicinity of Canada Well (Bir Canada) in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Since October 26, 2023 the MoH has released six lists, along with an additional list of medical professionals, which was released on September 15, 2024. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the sixth ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ list, which was released on September 15, 2024.