(Previous Incident Code: ISPT132 )

Two civilians, Alaa Abdullah Riyadh Qaddoum, a young girl aged 5, and Emad Abdel Rahim Ibrahim Shallah, aged 50 to 52 were reported killed and two others, including a child, were wounded when an alleged IDF missile hit a group of people in the street in al-Shija’iya neighbourhood, in eastern Gaza on August 5th 2022.

According to @TamerMisshal, Emad Abdel Rahim Ibrahim Shallah was the muezzin of the mosque, who went to raise the afternoon call to prayer when he was killed. The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs released a statement mourning Emad, who they also identified as a volunteer muezzin of Abu Samra Mosque, adding that he was killed while sitting at the door of the mosque.

Mondoweiss added that Emad was the head of a family of six and spent much of his time cleaning and organizing the mosque, which was close to his family’s home. Prior to the strike, Emad had been waiting for financial aid so that his 19-year-old son Muhammad, who suffers from health issues in his retina, could receive treatment.

Alaa Abdullah Riyadh Qaddoum was reported by some sources to be the daughter of militant Yousif Salman Mohammed Qaddoum, described as affiliated to the Islamic Jihad Movement, who was also killed in the attack. However, Mondoweiss identified Yousif as being a family relative and reported that Alaa’s father, Abdullah Qaddoum, was critically wounded in the same strike. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that both Alaa and her father sustained shrapnel wounds all over their body.

@yasserashour95 added that Yousif was a member of the Hay al-Zaytoun Karate Club and that his father was killed in 2002 in clashes in Gaza.

Alaa was said to be standing in front of her house, which is located only 50 meters from the mosque, the moment that the building was targeted. One local source (Yousef Ahmed) said that her brother – Riyad Abdullah Qaddoum – was also injured in the attack: “a speedy recovery to the distinguished child, my dear innocent friend, (Riyad Abdullah Qaddoum).” The local source added that Riyad was being treated at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Mondoweiss added that Alaa recently graduated from kindergarten and was excited about starting first grade at the end of the month. She was the oldest of four siblings and was on her way to her grandfather’s home when the strike occurred.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strike to Israeli forces.