Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

Belligerent
Israeli Military
Palestinian Militants
Country
Israel
the Gaza Strip
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

M21ISPT011

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

قرب مسجد السوسي, Vicinity of Al Soussi mosque, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.529531, 34.447085 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were injured in alleged Israeli strikes in the Al-Soussi area, west of Gaza, on May 11, 2021.

A tweet from @mahmoudem2000 reported that “a house belonging to the Nisman family was targeted in the vicinity of Al-Soussi Mosque.”

@uunionnews tweeted that “there are no martyrs in the recent bombing of an apartment in the Al-Soussi area, west of Gaza, and there are two minor injuries” and @Hassan_Che2020 put the number of injuries at three and added that they were transferred to the hospital.

@AlmakdesyMedia was the only source that identified a responsible party and they blamed Israel for the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Soussi Mosque (مسجد السوسي), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.529531, 34.447085. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT045

Incident date

May 13, 2021

Location

أبراج الندى, Al Nada Towers, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.548728, 34.524185 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two people, one a civilian and one a child identified to be a member of Mujahideen Brigades, were killed and seven others were injured in an alleged Israeli drone strike and/or artillery shelling near Nada 19, a high-rise building in Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021.

Al Mezan reported that at around 1:45pm, “Israel’s air force fired a missile at a group of people near Nada 19, a high-rise building in Beit Hanoun, killing Khaled Imad al-Qanou, 17, and inflicting injuries on eight others.” On May 19th, they added that Firas Alaa Mohammed Al-Bahri, 20, died from wounds he sustained in the May 13th airstrikes from shrapnel and he was pronounced dead at Al-Shifa Hospital at 11:00am.

Defence for Children – Palestine identified the strikes as occurring around 12:40 p.m. near the Gaza perimeter fence in North Gaza’s Izbat Beit Hanoun and attributed at least one missile being fired from an Israeli drone as being responsible. A Facebook post by Ehab Al Kafarna identified artillery shells as being what killed Khaled.

World Now News provided details that amongst those injured, there were many serious injuries and various sources pointed out that serious injuries were taken to al-Shifa hospital while the other injured were taken to the Indonesian hospital.

A post by LO.Samed on Facebook identified Khaled Imad al-Qanou as a high school student at Khalil Al-Rahman Secondary School for Boys in the 12th grade. The Ministry of Education also released a statement mourning Khaled and the other students killed in the conflict.

Sources were conflicted as to whether Khaled was to be considered a civilian or not. Various sources referred to Khaled as a civilian, including the New York Times, which included him in their list of children civilians killed in the Gaza conflict. However, the New York Times later published a story with more details, including a statement from the Mujahideen Brigades that Mr. al-Qanou was killed “within the Sword of Jerusalem Battle,” the name that militants in Gaza gave to the latest war but it did not explicitly state whether he was participating in the fighting when he died. The Mujahideen Brigades said Khaled was 20, but official health records and his family members say that he was 17, born on Jan. 10, 2004.

Mr. al-Qanou’s older brother, Osama, told the New York Times that his sibling joined the Mujahideen Brigades earlier this year after members of the group pressured him for months to join their ranks, offering money and access to weapons. “They exploited him,” said Osama al-Qanou, who added that his family was not supportive of his becoming a member of the group. Mr. al-Qanou added that his family was so deeply opposed to his brother’s joining the Mujahideen Brigades that they refused to allow members of the group to pay their respects in the mourners’ tent they erected following his death. “We kicked them out in front of everyone,” he said.

All of the sources attributed the strikes to Israel.

The incident occured at approximately 1:45 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Firas Alaa Mohammed Al-Bahri فراس علاء محمد البحري
20 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Imad al-Qanou, 17, killed in strikes near the Tower 19 in Al Nada towers, Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Ehab.alkafarna via Facebook)
  • Khaled Imad al-Qanou, 17, killed in strikes near the Tower 19 in Al Nada towers, Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by LO.Samed via Facebook)
  • Firas Alaa Al Bahri succumbed to the wounds he sustained in an airstrike near the Tower 19 in Al Nada towers, Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Firas Alaa Al Bahri succumbed to the wounds he sustained in an airstrike near the Tower 19 in Al Nada towers, Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Mohamedmasri0 via Facebook)
  • Firas Alaa Al Bahri succumbed to the wounds he sustained in an airstrike near the Tower 19 in Al Nada towers, Beit Hanoun, on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @Pal_Shaheed)
  • Khaled al-Qanou, alleged to be a militant even though he is a child, was killed by alleged Israeli strikes on Beit Hanoun on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Abu Alan via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Tower 19 within the Al Nada Towers (أبراج الندى) complex, Izbet Beit Hanoun (عزبة بيت حانون). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Nada Towers are: 31.548728, 34.524185.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT065

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

البريج, Al Bureij, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.438769, 34.404030 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man is alleged to have been injured in an Israeli airstrike on Al Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday 15th May 2021.

According to Al Haq, the airstrike took place around 12.15 a.m., destroying the house of Abdul Karim Issa and causing partial damage to other neighbouring buildings.

While Al Haq reported one moderate injury caused by the strike, this is not corroborated by any other source. Both Algulf and Al Haq attribute the strikes on Al Bureij to Israel.

The incident occured at approximately 12:15 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the Al Bureij (البريج) refugee camp, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.438769, 34.404030. 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT109

Incident date

May 18, 2021

Location

بيت حانون, غزة, Beit Hanoun, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.536116, 34.537239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

There were reports of civilian injuries, including one woman, following an alleged Israeli airstrike on a house in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza on May 18th 2021, according to local reports.

Mezan reported: “At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the occupation warplanes bombed a group of citizens on Al-Qarman Street in the center of Beit Hanoun in the North Gaza Governorate, injuring one woman, who was transferred to Beit Hanoun Hospital for treatment, a medical source at the hospital described the injury as minor.”

Local journalist, Diaa Mahmoud, reported that there had been injuries following the strike but did not give any further details as to their identities or how many people were injured.

An eyewitness told Al Ayyam that two artillery shells landed close to an ambulance crew as they were transporting wounded people from the area.

According to The Palestinian Information Center the strike took place at 12:07pm local time.

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Qarmani Street (شارع القرماني), allegedly located within the town of Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Beit Hanoun are: 31.536116, 34.537239.

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
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0125

Incident date

October 10–11, 2023

Location

البريج, Bureij, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.440597, 34.402669 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 10 at night or on October 11 at dawn, alleged Israeli strikes on civilian homes in Bureij refugee camp, near the Dabas Junction, in central Gaza, killed between 33 to 34 civilians, including at least 14 children*, eight women and 11 men.

Among the victims, local sources documented five entire family units allegedly killed in their homes. One female doctor was also among those reportedly killed in the attack. Some sources reported that her daughter was killed, while others reported that she was severely injured.

One social media account, which identified at least 30 civilians killed, indicated that “many martyrs” were still trapped under the rubble and that in the “massacre in Bureij Camp entire families have been erased from the civil registry*”. No estimations of the total number of injured civilians were provided by local sources.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces. The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that the strikes were conducted on October 10 at night, while other sources reported the attack at dawn on October 11.

Sources reported that several members of eight different family units were killed in the incident. At least five entire family units – including at least a father, mother, and their children – were reported killed. They are identified below:

1-“Mohamed Bassam El-Sherbiny“, owner of El-Sherbiny library “The dear moon” (“Al-Qamar Al-Ghali”), his wife, and his children “Hassan” and “Rama“. Sources did not provide the name of Mohamed’s wife, nor the age of the victims.
2-Ahmed Bassam El-Sherbiny, his wife and children. Sources did not provide the name of Ahmed’s wife or his children, nor the number of children, nor the age of the victims.
3-Youssef Bassam El-Sherbiny, his wife and children. Sources did not provide the name of Youssef’s wife or his children, nor the age of the victims.
4-Abu Alaa Hussein, his wife and children. Sources did not provide the name of Alaa’s wife or his children, nor the age of the victims.
5-
One local social media account documented the death of eight members of the same family unit, among which six children, all reportedly killed in the strikes that hit civilian houses in the refugee camp, including one man named Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia”, and his children. Ashraf’s cousin on Facebook identified Ashraf’s sons as Diaa Ashraf Daabes, Ahmed Ashraf Daabes, and Muhammad Ashraf Daabes but did not indicate their age. Other sources said that Ashraf’s wife was also killed in the blast, without providing her name. Ashraf’s cousin also added that the three children of his other cousin Ayman Daabes “Abu Ahmed” were also killed at dawn after his aunt “Um Talaat Daabes” house was allegedly targeted by Israeli bombing and the civilians were at home. He identified the children killed as Ahmed Ayman Daabes, Muhammad Ayman Daabes, and Bakr Ayman Daabes. No information on the age of these victims could be found.

Local reporting also added that a man called Bassam El-Sherbiny “Abu Mohamad”  and his wife, whose name was not provided, were also killed. One local source specified Bassam’s body was recovered from “the Bureij massacre”. It is possible that Bassam El-Sherbiny Abu Mohamad could be Mohamad Bassam Al-Sherbiny’s father, though sources did not explicitly specify that they were related.

The Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the death of their colleague Dr. Cyrine Mohammad Al-Attar. She was described by Jordan Hospital Facebook Page (Al-Urdun Hospital) as ” a graduate of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics” there, “as part of the ongoing medical training and education program at the hospital.” Dr Osaid Alser, on Twitter, who described Cyrine as his “former OBGYN attending during med school”, said “the loss is huge”, adding that she was sleeping in her home when her house was bombed. One Facebook source commented her death saying “May God have mercy on you, Dr. Cyrine Al-Attar, and on all our martyrs in this brutal war on our people in Gaza.” MoH and Al-Urdun Hospital also announced that Cyrine’s daughter was killed in the same attackbut another source, Dr Sameer Abu Samra on Facebook, said that the daughter was “severely injured”. The same source added “I offer my condolences to my friend and colleague Dr. Wajdi Jarbou for the martyrdom of his wife and colleague Dr. Cyrine Al-Attar”. Cyrine’s daughter’s name or age was not provided by sources.

A man identified as Youssef Ramadan and his wife were also reportedly killed. The name of Youssef’s wife was not provided by sources.

The other civilians killed were identified as:
Ahmed Mayouf
Mohamed Ramadan
Ahmed Ramadan
Ramadan Ramadan
Local sources initially reported that six civilians were killed in the bombing of the “Ramadan”‘s home and its surrounding, while another one affirmed that ten bodies of “martyrs” were discovered in that area. It was unclear from the sources whether Yousser Ramadan, Mohamad Ramadan, Ahmed Ramadan and Ramadan Ramadan were related.

*Though Airwars was unable to find the exact age of the children mentioned, we have assumed that all references to the family’s children are of those under the age of 18 given related images of young children. When sources reported that “children” of one family unit were killed, without indicating how many children, Airwars estimated the number of children killed as “2”.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Mohamed Bassam El-Sherbiny محمد بسام الشربيني
Adult male killed
Mohamed Bassam El-Sherbiny's wife
Adult female killed
Hassan حسن
Child male Mohamed's son killed
Rama راما
Child female Mohamed's daughter killed

Family members (4)

Ahmed Bassam El-Sherbiny احمد بسام الشربيني
Adult male killed
Ahmed Bassam El-Sherbiny's wife
Adult female killed
Ahmed Bassam El-Sherbiny's first child
Child killed
Ahmed Bassam El-Sherbiny's second child
Child killed

Family members (4)

Youssef Bassam El-Sherbiny يوسف بسام الشربيني
Adult male killed
Youssef Bassam El-Sherbiny's wife
Adult female killed
Youssef Bassam El-Sherbiny's first child
Child killed
Youssef Bassam El-Sherbiny's second child
Child killed

Family members (8)

Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia” أشرف محمد دعابس
Adult male killed
Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia”'s wife زوجة أشرف دعابس
Adult female killed
Diaa Ashraf Daabes ضياء أشرف دعابس
Child male Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia”'s first child killed
Muhammad Ashraf Daabes محمد اشرف دعابس
Child male Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia”'s second child killed
Ahmed Ashraf Daabes احمد اشرف دعابس
Child male Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia”'s third child killed
Ahmed Ayman Daabes احمد ايمن دعابس
Child male Ayman Daabes “Abu Ahmed's first son - Ayman Daabes “Abu Ahmed is a cousin of Ashraf Muhammad Daabes “Abu Dia killed
Muhammad Ayman Daabes محمد ايمن دعابس
Child male Ayman Daabes “Abu Ahmed's second son killed
Bakr Ayman Daabes بكر ايمن دعابس
Child male Ayman Daabes “Abu Ahmed's third son killed

Family members (4)

Abu Alaa Hussein ابو علاء حسين
Adult male killed
Abu Alaa Hussein's wife
Adult female killed
Abu Alaa Hussein's first child
Child killed
Abu Alaa Hussein's second child
Child killed

Family members (2)

Dr. Cyrine Al-Attar الطبيبة سيريت عطار
Adult female killed
Dr. Cyrine Al-Attar's daughter
Child female unclear if she was injured or killed killed

Family members (2)

Youssef Ramadan يوسف رمضان
Adult male killed
Youssef Ramadan's wife
Adult female killed

Family members (2)

Bassam El-Sherbiny, Abu Muhammad بسام الشربيني ابو محمد
Adult male killed
Bassam El-Sherbiny, Abu Muhammad 's wife
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Mayouf احمد معيوف
Adult male killed
Mohamed Ramadan محمد رمضان
Adult male killed
Ahmed Ramadan احمد رمضان
Adult male killed
Ramadan Ramadan رمضان رمضان
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33 – 34
  • (14–15 children8 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bureij Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kawkabuna Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Reem Reem Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Reem Reem Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Reem Reem Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Eyad Barood Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Eyad Barood Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Daabes Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammed Daabes Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sbahe Shereen FacebookDr. Saad Draiba was not killed on the 11th
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sbahe Shereen Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Urdun Hospital facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Buraij Facebook

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bureij (البريج). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.440597, 34.402669.

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  • Imagery:
    Guardian News

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    33 – 34
  • (14–15 children8 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0041

Incident date

October 8, 2023

Location

منزل حامد أبو عون في مخيم النصيرات, Al Nuseirat camp, Gaza strip, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On the October 8th, 2023, Hamid Kamal Abu Aoun (36 years old) was killed along with his three children in an alleged Israeli airstrike on his home in the Al Nuseirat camp.

In the attack, carried out at dawn, Hamid Aoun’s two sons Kamal Hamid Abu Aoun (13 years old) and Omar Hamid Abu Aoun (five years old) and his daughter Rima Hamid Abu Aoun (one year old) were all reported killed.

Hamid Aoun was reported to be the son of Hamas Political Bureau member Kamal Abu Aoun. The strike and the deaths of the family members were reported online through different news outlets such as the Palestinian Information Center and Palestine Now. The Palestinian Information Center tweeted that Hamed Kamal Abu Aoun, son of a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, was killed, accompanied by three of his children in the attack on their home at dawn today”, whilst Palestine Now specifically attributed the bombing to Israeli aircraft.

The Nuseirat camp, where the strike had occurred, publicly confirmed the attack on its Facebook page: “confirmed the rise of the beloved Hamed Abu Aoun, a new moon joining the group of moons”.

Using social media, several family members and friends expressed their condolences, confirming the deaths of Hamad Kamal Abu Aoun and his three children. Wesam Al Attar, the cousin of Hamad Kamal Abu Aoun wrote on his Facebook account: “May God have mercy on him, the heroic martyrs. (My cousin Hamad Kamal Abu Aoun … and three of his children)”.

All names of those killed have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hamed Kamal Abu Aoun حامد كمال ابو
36 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800788010
Kamal Hamid Abu Aoun كمال حامد ابو
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429646748
Omar Hamid Abu Aoun عمر حامد ابو
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440821999
Rima Hamid Abu Aoun ريما حامد
1 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 444422067

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Musab Darwish
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Osama Mughari
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmad Al Ekomi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Wesam Al Attar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ayman Abu Aoun
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nusayriat camp page
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Qadir Ahmed Al Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Qadir Ahmed Al Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Qadir Ahmed Al Hour
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yosef Safi
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Um Al Haytham
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @mechheek
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlanWkalt
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlanWkalt
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlanWkalt
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @AlanWkalt

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 man)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS015

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

سديروت, Sderot, Israel

Geolocation

31.531449, 34.585562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and three to seven family members, including a woman and two children, were reported injured when a rocket declared by Hamas’s militant wing allegedly hit a residential street in Sderot, southern Israel on May 12th, 2021, according to local reports.

Ido Avigal, 5, was killed whilst he and his family were taking shelter in a safe room, said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The New York Times reported that a missile hit a building close to his aunt’s home causing a piece of shrapnel to penetrate the room’s thick glass window striking Ido in the stomach.

Paramedics, Aviv Shenor and Yossi Halabi, told Ynet: “When we arrived at the scene, we saw an attack on the fifth floor of a six-story building. No injuries were identified in the building, but in a nearby building on the fourth floor we noticed shrapnel penetrating the window of the house and when we went up to the apartment we saw an unconscious child with shrapnel wounds. We gave him life-saving medical treatment and performed CPR on him, and after urgent treatment, we quickly evacuated him to the hospital while CPR continued.”

The Magen David Adom (MDA) medical service said its staff provided medical care and evacuated seven injured people to Barzilai Hospital. The Jerusalem Post reported that among the injured were Shani Avigal, Ido mother, his six year old sister and five members of the extended family including his six-year-old cousin. Shani Avigal was injured by shrapnel to her upper body and a child was said to be in a stable condition having been treated for shrapnel wounds, according to the MDA.

@PalinfoAr originally reported that only three civilians were injured in the strikes.

On May 26th Shani Avigal told The New York Times Ido had suffered with anxiety since the start of the conflict and did not want to sleep, shower or eat alone, she described her son as caring and loving.

On the May 12th El Watan published an announcement by the group Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades: “In continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and the targeting of civilian facilities, the Qassam Brigades bombard the Zionist Sderot with 20 missiles.”

Reports of the attack began circulating at approximately 19:45, although the Al-Qassam Brigades released a statement at 18:36 which stated, “in continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and targeting of civilian facilities, Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped Zionist Sderot with 20 rockets.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ido Avigal
5 years old male killed
Shani Avigal
Adult female injured
Sister of Ido
6 years old female injured
Cousin of Ido
6 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Shrapnel from a missile strike on Sderot penetrated the window of the shelter that Ido was hiding in and killed him on may 12th, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Ido Avigal, 5, was killed whilst he and his family were taking shelter in a safe room following strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @qudsn)
  • Injuries caused by a rocket fired from Gaza at a house in Sderot Several people, including a child, were injured after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building in Sderot on Wednesday. Ambulances and officers were on site to provide care for the wounded
  • Rescue workers treat the wounded following strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Alkoufiya News)
  • Students of a school in southern Israel gathered at the home of 6-year-old Ido Avigal, who was killed by a terrorist rocket fired by Hamas last week, and sang the Israeli national anthem “Hatikva” (Hope). (Image posted by Standwithusarabic via Facebook)
  • Statement from @UnitedHatzalah, posted by @samuelsokol
  • Shrapnel from a missile strike on Sderot penetrated the window of the shelter that Ido was hiding in and killed him on may 12th, 2021. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in Sderot (שדרות ). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down this location to these exact coordinates: 31.531449, 34.585562.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in Sderot (שדרות )

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged street view image from 2012 shows the area undeveloped.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged audio-material from sources.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

18:32
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
One dead, a number of wounded, and heavy material losses were caused by the rockets fired by the Al-Qassam Brigades on Sderot and Ashkelon.


18:36
In continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and targeting of civilian facilities, Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped Zionist Sderot with 20 rockets.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT023

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

حي الأمل, Al Amal neighborhood, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.354810, 34.297943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians, including up to three woman, were killed and between three and eight others, including a child, were wounded in alleged Israeli artillery shelling and/or airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021.

Initial reports from @Alaqsavoice_Brk stated that “a martyr rose in Khan Yunis from the bombing of an apartment in the Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis”. Later reports from @SafaPs added that “the body of a second female martyr was pulled out from the bombed house of the Arafa family in the Al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Yunis governorate, in the southern Gaza Strip” and @AlGhadTV additionally reported “the body of a third martyr was recovered in the bombing of a house in Al-Amal”.

A tweet from @alkofiyatv named Hadeel Arafa as being killed in the strikes and noted that her body “arrived at Nasser Hospital after she was pulled out from under the rubble”. According to a post by Khan Younus Today, Hadeel was planning her wedding to be held after Eid and had planned out all of the details, including the dress she was going to wear. Thehir Hussein added on Facebook that she had just gotten engaged two weeks ago. Hadeel was killed alongside her mother, Miami Arafa.

Al Mezan included details that “at 2:30pm on the same day, Israeli air forces fired multiple missiles onto a 125-square-meter four-story house owned by Mahmoud Arafah and located in the Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Younis. The attack led to the death of Miami Abdallah Mousa Arafah, 49, and her daughter Hadeel Khaled Mahmoud Arafah, 28. Three other residents of the house, one of them a child, were injured, while the house and nearby buildings were significantly damaged.”

Al Jazeera reported that “Bayan AbuSultan, 25, said her cousin Hadeel Arafa, 27, and her 50-year-old aunt, Miami, a mother of four, were killed while preparing for Eid in their house in the Amal neighbourhood”.

According to Al Jazeera, at the time of the strikes, “there was no prior warning of an imminent strike as Miami’s brother was on a call with her a few minutes before the bombing. AbuSultan said that she and Hadeel had been planning to go shopping together after Ramadan as she was supposed to get married a few days after Eid al-Fitr. The last that she had heard from her cousin was when she shared her Facebook status, praying for those killed. “Little did she know that soon after we’ll be wishing her exactly the same,” AbuSultan said. “I shiver every time I think of how terrified they were. I hope they didn’t feel anything.”

@ShehabAgency also identified “injuries by Israeli shelling targeted an apartment in Al-Amal neighborhood” and later added that “8 injuries were transported from the scene”.

Sources were conflicted as to whether the damage was inflicted by artillery shells or airstrikes. However, all of the sources that attributed responsibility for the incident blamed Israel.

An IDF statement on 12th May stated: “A short while ago, the IDF struck an additional Hamas internal security apparatus building, in Khan Yunis, used for counterintelligence.” It is unclear at this time if this event was included in this statement.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

28 years old female killed
49 years old female Mother of Hadeel killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–8
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Funeral for two members of the Arafa family killed in alleged Israeli bombing of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @AbuZiad486)
  • Funeral for two members of the Arafa family killed in alleged Israeli bombing of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @AbuZiad486)
  • The body of Hadeel Arafa arrived at Nasser Hospital after she was pulled out from under the rubble following airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @alkofiyatv)
  • The body of Hadeel Arafa arrived at Nasser Hospital after she was pulled out from under the rubble following airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @alkofiyatv)
  • The body of Hadeel Arafa arrived at Nasser Hospital after she was pulled out from under the rubble following airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @alkofiyatv)
  • The body of Hadeel Arafa arrived at Nasser Hospital after she was pulled out from under the rubble following airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @alkofiyatv)
  • Damage to the building that was struck by alleged Israeli shelling on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Khan Younus Today via Facebook)
  • Wedding dress that belonged to Hadeel Arafa , who was killed in airstrikes on the Al Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @iiio___oiiii)
  • Casualties and the destruction caused by shelling on the Al Amal neighborhood on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Doaa Anna via Facebook)
  • #watched | The young woman Hadeel Arafa, 27, from Gaza, was preparing to be a bride, but the occupation planes ended everything
  • "A Palestinian police officer inspects a damaged building hit by an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on May 12, 2021. The second day of fighting between Israel and the Hamas militant group ruling the Gaza Strip left massive damage in Gaza and an increasing number of casualties on both sides on Wednesday." (Image posted by Xinhua)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Amal (حي الأمل), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.354810, 34.297943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Amal (حي الأمل).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

[23:59, 5/12/2021] IDF News Desk: IDF:

A short while ago, the IDF struck an additional Hamas internal security apparatus building, in Khan Yunis, used for counterintelligence.

The IDF is continuing to strike terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–8
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (27) [ collapse]