Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT095

Incident date

May 17, 2021

Location

دير البلح, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.418995, 34.349442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children, Youssef Rafiq Ismail Al-Baz (13) and Ramadan Rafiq Al-Baz (16), were reported killed and between one and three civilians were reported injured in an alleged Isreali airstrike at approximately 12:40pm, in Deir Al Balah along Salah El-Din Road on May 17th, 2021.

Local sources reported that, without prior warning, an Isreali aerial drone launched a missile at the home of the Al Baz family, near the Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Al Meza news stated that Youssef Rafik Al-Baz was killed directly, whilst his brother Ramadan was in a critical condition, and both were brought to the Al-Aqsa Hospital. Ramadan succumbed to his severe injuries in the hospital, after receiving treatment for shrapnel injuries.

Youssef was a seventh grader at the Rudol Filter (A) school for Boys in the Central Education Directorate.

Al-HAQ released a report stating that due to the attack, a nearby car workshop and the Al-Baz family home were damaged. @mohamd14824342 also pinpointed the location of the strikes to near an UNRWA center on Salah El-Din Street.

Mashrqnews and other local sources reported that further civilians were injured during the attack, estimates vary between one and three injured civilians.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Israel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Youssef Rafiq Ismail Al-Baz يوسف رفيق الباز
13 years old male killed
Ramadan Rafiq Al-Baz رمضان رفيق الباز
16 years old male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح), for which the geneirc coordinates are: 31.418995, 34.349442. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Graphic image of Youssef Rafiq Al-Baz, killed in Israeli strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by @adham922)
  • Mourning the victims of the strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by @AlmakdesyMedia)
  • Image of Youssef Rafiq Al-Baz, killed in Israeli strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by Yousef, a cousin of the deceased, via Facebook)
  • Image of Ramadan Rafiq Al-Baz, killed in Israeli strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by Yousef, a cousin of the deceased, via Facebook)
  • Image of Youssef Rafiq Al-Baz, killed in Israeli strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by @_G4Z4)
  • The convoys of martyrs continue. My uncle’s house was bombed without warning, and the cousin was seriously injured: Ramadan Rafiq Al-Baz, and the death of his cousin, the young cousin: Youssef Rafiq Al-Baz. We belong to Allah and for him we will return
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Youssef Rafiq Al-Baz, killed in Israeli strikes on Deir Al Balah on May 17, 2021. (Image posted by Deir Albalah via Facebook)

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (40) [ collapse]