During the early afternoon of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 38-40 year old Basel Mahmoud Abu Warda was killed and five other civilians were injured by an alleged Israeli military drone strike near the Haider intersection in western Gaza.

@ShehabAgency reported the death of an individual at 2:33 p.m., and at 3:32 p.m. Saba Net reported that it was Basel who had been killed by the strike. Wafa News Agency and other local news sources also reported the death of Basel. Al-Rashad Press and Street Pulse reported that five civilians sustained varying injuries from the strike, with Al-Rashad Press stating that they were taken to hospital. No further information about these victims was found among local sources.

Al-Rashad Press reported that eyewitnesses confirmed a small stall selling household goods was struck, “turning the area into a scene of destruction and causing panic among passersby.” On Facebook, Ahmed Abdeen, Atef Sukkar, and Nurse Haneen Alkass referred to Basel as the seller of the household goods stall, and those injured as his customers.

Several videos of the aftermath of the strike were published to Facebook. Videos posted by Erada Media Network and Abu Yahya Hassouna show Basel’s body amidst the destruction of the household goods stall, with a large group of people gathered around. In Abu Yayha Hassouna’s video, a man can be seen throwing his hands to his head in despair next to Basel’s body.

In a video published by Rashad Fouad, Basel can be seen carried by several men onto a trailer, whilst surrounded by a large number of people. Along with the video, Rashad wrote: “Dozens of people pass through this place every moment… people coming and going, and a simple vendor standing there trying to earn a living. But even trying to live in Gaza has become dangerous… people trying to survive amidst the war… but the war is chasing them everywhere.”

Multiple local news sources, such as @Gaza24Live, Wafa News Agency, Saba and Erada Media Network, reported Basel as 38 years old, however, Al-Rashad Press and Street Pulse reported Basel as 40 years old.

Street Pulse reported that Basel was a resident of Jabalia al-Nazla. He is survived by his daughters, one of whom is likely pictured with him in a photograph shared by Mhamed Khouya.

Imran Walid Abu Warda, Basel’s brother-in-law, mourned Basel on Facebook and posted, “May God make it easy for you, my beloved.” Imran referred to Basel as “Abu Ubaida” and shared a photograph of a young man with a beard and short hair, smiling and holding a baby.

On Facebook, Omar al-Najjar Abu Sham and Bilal Abu Khlifa referred to Basel as “Qanaza” – perhaps a nickname.

A video posted by Palestine Online documented Basel’s funeral. In the video, a group of men can be seen in a room around Basel’s shrouded body; afterwards dozens of people can be seen outside paying their respects in front of Basel’s body.

Facebook user “Tel al-Hawa Main District” alleged that Basel’s death was due to a car bomb; all other sources, however, specified a drone strike.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.