Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT101

Incident date

May 18, 2021

Location

رفح, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.296854, 34.243508 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman died of a heart attack following an alleged Israeli airstrike on the city of Rafah, southern Gaza on May 18th 2021, according to local media reports.

Saadiya Yousef Hussein Abu Gharara, 57, died from heart failure after 12 airstrikes struck the city shortly after 22:05, reported Al Mezan.

The body of Mrs Gharara, a resident of Block 5, was transported to Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital, said Nuseirat News.

Al Mezan reported the strikes were part of a wave of attacks that targeted farmland and road networks in the north and east of Rafah city. The Shehab News Agency posted a photograph purporting to show damage to a residential street in the Khirbet al-Adas neighborhood. Quds News reported the neighborhood of Musbeh was also targeted in the strikes.

The incident occured at approximately 10:05 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption Photo: "An Israeli raid targeted a main street in the Khirbet al-Adas area in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip" Courtesy of @ShehabAgency

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Rafah (رفح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.296854, 34.243508. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS025

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

حولون, Holon, Israel

Geolocation

32.015779, 34.787218 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, a 73 year old woman was injured whilst seeking shelter from incoming rockets, reportedly fired by by Palestinian militants into the Israeli city of Holon. The woman was reported to have died two days later from her injuries.

The victim was named by several sources as Hava Vaknin. She fell as a result of the panic caused by the warning siren, sustaining a brain injury and died two days later from her injuries, according to multiple sources.

The time of the incident was not reported by any sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hava Vaknin
73 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Hava Vaknin, 73, who was injured whilst running to a bomb shelter in Holon, and later died from her injuries (image via Eti Aseoo)
  • Hava Vaknin, 73, who was injured whilst running to a bomb shelter in Holon, and later died from her injuries (image via Forum Holon)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Holon (חולון), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.015779, 34.787218. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT078

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

المغازي, Al Maghazi, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.423444, 34.387658 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A girl with disabilities was injured following an airstrike in the central section of the Gaza Strip around 11.50 p.m. on Saturday 15th May 2021. One source, a Palestinian journalist, was alone in reporting that three others were also injured in the strike.

According to Al Haq, the child, named as Zeina Shady al-Saftawi fell and injured herself following the strike. Sources disagree on the location of the strike, with Al Haq and others reporting it as happening in an area of open ground east of Al-Maghazi refugee camp; others reported the strike taking place further west, to the west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. In addition, sources dispute the weapon delivery system, with Al Haq reporting it as ground artillery fire, with others reporting an airstrike. Multiple sources attributed the strikes to Israel.

The incident occured at 23:50:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Zeina Shady al-Saftawi زينة شادي الصفطاوي
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of strikes on Al Maghazi camp on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @Ibrahim__Alamri)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Maghazi (المغازي) camp, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.423444, 34.387658. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS023

Incident date

May 14, 2021

Location

بئر السبع, Beersheba, Israel

Geolocation

31.258889, 34.799722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A missile fired by alleged Palestinian militants directly hit a house in the Israeli city of Beersheba according to several sources.

Those physically injured included a 78 year old female victim with limb and head injuries, a 50 year old male victim with an injury to his limbs, a 54 year old woman with a facial injury and another female victim in her 70s.

Multiple sources also reported that 19 civilians were taken to Soroka Hospital after the attack due to indirect harm: 16 sustained light injuries whilst running to bomb shelters and three were being treated for shock.

Multiple sources claimed the incident occurred in the evening.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
78 years old female injured
Name unknown
54 years old female injured
Name unknown
50 years old male injured
Name unknown
70-79 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'The apartment that was damaged this morning in Be'er Sheva. Photo: Husias Montenegro'
  • Damage to a building in Beersheeba that was hit by a missile reportedly fired by Palestinian Militants (image via Beersheva Mynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a house being struck in the city of Beersheba (באר שבע) for which the generic coordinates are: 31.258889, 34.799722. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

14 May, 2021
21:05
Al-Qassam Brigades bombard occupied Beersheba with a missile launch

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS021

Incident date

May 13, 2021

Location

قرب اشدود, Shtulim, Israel

Geolocation

31.773639, 34.684618 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, an elderly woman died after sustaining a head injury while running to a protected area in the town of Shtulim near Ashdod, Israel during a reported Hamas rocket attack on May 13th 2021.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs named the woman as 84-year-old Miriam Arie. Reporting of Mrs. Arie’s age varies across other sources.

The Israeli media outlet, Kan Darom, said residents were made aware of an impending strike when an alarm sounded in the town of Shtulim at 22:38, part of the Beer Tuvia Regional Council. Aharon Zeno, a paramedic, told the outlet that members of the victim’s family said her death had been the result of a slip. One source, Kann News, reported that Mrs. Arie fell after colliding with a security guard.

Haaretz said that medics with the Hatzalah medical service tried to resuscitate her at the scene where she was reported to have died shortly after.

One source, @GeneralInspect2 on Twitter, reported that multiple people had been injured as a result of the incident, no further details were provided.

In 2016 Miriam Arie was interviewed by the website Ravdori. In the interview, she describes how she emigrated to Israel from Yemen in 1949 at the age of 13. She also described her family life, saying: “Today I am already a great grandmother, I have nine children, I had another child named Gabriel, he died of epilepsy. I have 26 great grandchildren and 9 grandchildren. I still live in Moshav Shtulim with two of my cousins ​​and Ilan, and raise a large, high-quality farm of cows to produce milk.”

Two sources, Yousri Saied and Avi Mayer, described Hamas as being responsible for the strike.

Indirect harm incident only.

The incident occured at approximately 10:40 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Miriam Arie
84 years old female Miriam Arie immigrated to Israel from Yemen in 1949 at the age of 13 killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Miriam Arieh pictured on the right with a family member (published by Ravdori in 2016, courtesy of family)
  • Miriam Arieh is seen with her husband (published by Ravdori in 2016, courtesy of family)
  • Miriam Arieh is seen with famiy members (published by Ravdori in 2016, courtesy of family)
  • Miriam Arieh is seen with her grandchildren in an immigrant camp (published by Ravdori in 2016, courtesy of family)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Shtulim (שְׁתוּלִים‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.773639, 34.684618. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS020

Incident date

May 13, 2021

Location

كريات جات, Zohar near Kiryat Gat, Israel

Geolocation

31.593985, 34.691024 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as two people were physically injured by a rocket, reportedly fired from Gaza, that struck the village of Zohar, southern Israel on May 13th 2021, according to local reports.

The Times of Israel said the Magen David Adom ambulance service provided assistance to three people in the small community of Zohar near Kiryat Gat. A 60-year-old woman was said to have sustained light injuries from broken glass, a 40-year-old woman was slightly injured whilst she made his way to a bomb shelter, and another woman suffered an acute anxiety attack. Raya News quoted Israeli media outlets saying two of the victims had been injured by shrapnel.

Several Arabic media sources described the strike as taking place within the city of Kiryat Gat and reported a similar number of injuries.

The Unews Press Agency reported the rocket stuck close to a residential home.

No further information was discovered regarding the identity of the victims.

The Times of Israel reported the strike occurred after more than 100 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel.

Reports of the incident began appearing just before 15:00.

The incident occured at approximately 2:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
40 years old female injured
Name unknown
60 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Rescue crews arrive following strikes on Zohar on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @alestiklal)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the moshav of Zohar (צומת גורל) near Kiryat Gat (קרית גת) being struck, for which the coordinates are: 31.593985, 34.691024. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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 attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS013

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

تل أبيب, Tel Aviv, Israel

Geolocation

32.066667, 34.783333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man in his 80’s collapsed during a rocket attack allegedly fired from Gaza in Tel Aviv on May 12th 2021, according to local reports. Reports are conflicted as to whether or not the man died as a result of the attack.

The Times of Israel reported that the man collapsed due to an apparent heart attack while making his way to a bomb shelter.

Anna Ahronheim, a journalist with Jerusalem Post, said the man died as a result of the incident, while Emanuel Fabian, an editor with the Times of Israel, said that medics who worked on the man informed him he was, “alive and breathing after resuscitation.”

No further information was provided as to the identity of the man.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Missiles being launched from Gaza to Israel (Image posted by @TRTArabi)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tel Aviv (תל אביב), for which the generic coordinates are:32.066667, 34.783333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS008

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

Netaim, Israel

Geolocation

31.94537637, 34.77307612 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died whilst taking shelter during a rocket attack allegedly fired by Hamas militants in the village of Neta’im, south of Tel Aviv on May 11th, 2021, according to local reports.

According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Orly Liron, 52, fell and was subsequently taken to hospital where she died two days later from an aneurysm.

Tal, Orly’s partner, told Ynet: “She was upstairs and I was in the living room. It was announced on TV that an attack on Tel Aviv was beginning. A minute after the alarm went off, I started hearing Barry (the couple’s son) yell at me ‘Daddy, Daddy, I thought it was because he was scared so I went down to them. I opened the door of the emergency room and saw her with a bleeding wound on her forehead.”

Tal added: “She was so looking forward to the coming years, to fill the child’s soul with kindness, love and giving to others. Barry’s role model was taken. A child needs a mother before he needs a father.”

Multiple sources also reported that Orly was a teacher of biology and science at H. Urban School in Tel Aviv for 29 years. Following her death, the high school she worked at released a statement: “We, the Urban God family, hereby announce the passing of Orly Liron, a teacher, educator, wonderful woman, mother of Bari, daughter of Shoshana, sister of Zvika and Nir’s spouse. Orly will forever remain in our hearts.” Her students wrote, “Orly, who taught us, who educated us, who guided us in ceremonies and the rest of her work at school, entered the heart of each and every one of us and will always remain an integral part of the school and the urban community. The teaching staff in these difficult times. ”

The local time of the incident is unknown. Galatz Radio reported that the alarm that alerted Orly and her family was in Moshav Netaim.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Orly Liron
52 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Orly Liron, 52 years old, fell and was subsequently taken to hospital where she died two days later from an aneurysm. (Image posted by Ynet)
  • Orly Liron, 52 years old, fell and was subsequently taken to hospital where she died two days later from an aneurysm. (Image posted by N12)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Netaim (נטעים), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.94537637, 34.77307612.  Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (4) [ collapse]