Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0344

Incident date

October 18, 2023

Location

مسجد المحطة, Al Mahatta Mosque, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.514075, 34.476052 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shortly before 6am on Wednesday, October 18th 2023, the Al Mahatta Mosque, on Jaffa Street, in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City was reportedly bombed by an Israeli Military drone strike. The Palestinian press agency Safa reported at 6:20 am local time that there were casualties as a result of the alleged drone raid. No other sources mentioned casualties, therefore the civilian harm status of this incident was recorded as weak and the number of civilians injured and killed as 1-2 to reflect local reporting.

Lebanese news agencies Al-Mayadeen and News L-B (@newslebanon2021) as well as Twitter/X user Siham-Haifa Daoud reported that the mosque was destroyed and caught on fire.

Other news agencies reported the incident including Al Jazeera Egypt, Wattan and Saudi news site Al-Marsd.

A Facebook user Walid Mosbah posted an image with the headline and a man standing on top of a large pile of scorched rubble. Similarly, Al Jazeera Egypt posted an image with the headline and a collapsed mosque dome. Neither source specifically claimed that the image was of Al Mahatta Mosque.

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

The incident occured at approximately 5:30 am local time.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the al Mahatta Mosque (مسجد المحطة) to the north of Gaza city (غزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.514075, 34.476052. 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 infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Walid Mosbah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Jazeera Egypt

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 infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]