Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT002

Incident date

May 10, 2021

Location

تلة الكاشف, Al Kashef Hill, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.523208, 34.501505 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Muhammad Saber Suleiman, a 15-year-old boy, and his father, Saber Ibrahim Suleiman, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, northern Gaza on May 10th 2021, according to local reports.

Saber Ibrahim Suleiman, 38, was reportedly a commander in the Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam brigades, according to the Defense for Children International Palestine report. This was confirmed in a post on the organisation’s website.

Al-Haq reported that at 6:10 PM one missile targeted the father and son while they worked on their agricultural land in the Jabal Al-Kashef area, east of Izbt Abd Rabbo. In a Facebook post, a relative said the strike had targeted Mr. Suleiman’s car.

Defense for Children International Palestine and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that a drone had been used to carry out the strike.

Mahmoud Suliman, a relative told The Nation:  “We can’t believe that we lost Saber and his son. Saber had a good reputation and we won’t forget him.” He called on “the resistance” of Hamas and Gaza’s armed groups to avenge the loss.

Images and videos, found by @DigFind_ and others, showed Muhammad Saber Suleiman dressed in uniform and firing weapons. However, no official channels verify if he is a member of a militant organization.

The bodies of the father and son were taken to the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza where it was declared they had died from shrapnel wounds.

Saber and his son were buried in Jabaliya camp, north Gaza.

The incident occured at approximately 6:10 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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
    1–2

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Mourners carry the body of Saber and his son Muhammed Suleyman during funeral ceremony in Jabalia refugee camp (image posted posted by Mustafa Hassona of Anadolu Agency)
  • Mourners carry the body of Saber and his son Muhammed Suleyman during funeral ceremony in Jabalia refugee camp (image posted posted by Mustafa Hassona of Anadolu Agency)
  • A young boy is seen at the funeral of Saber and Muhammed Suleyman during funeral ceremony in Jabalia refugee camp (image posted posted by Mustafa Hassona of Anadolu Agency)(Courtesy of AFP)
  • An image of Saber Ibrahim Suleiman which appears on a list of martyrs on the the Al Qassam website
  • An image of Saber and his son Muhammed Suleyman. (image posted by the Namaa Football Club Facebook page)
  • An image of Muhammed Suleyman. (image posted by the Namaa Football Club Facebook page)
  • Caption: "The son of the martyr Saber Suleiman during a farewell to his father and brother today in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip" (image posted by @alshgar789)
  • An image of Muhammad Suleiman (posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • An image of Muhammad Suleiman (posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • An image of Muhammad Suleiman that appeared in an article by The New York Times titled "They Were Only Children' (Image posted by The New York Times)
  • Muhammed Suleyman practices firing a weapon watched over by his father Saber. (Image posted by @DigFind_)
  • Saber Suleiman poses with a weapon. (Image posted by @DigFind_)
  • Muhammed Suleyman poses with a weapon. (Image posted by @DigFind_)
  • Muhammed Suleyman poses with a rifle and a pistol (Images posted by @Jtruzmah)
  • Muhammed Suleyman poses with a rifle (Images posted by @Jtruzmah)
  • A collage of images of Saber and Muhammed Suleyman (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • An image of Saber Suleyman. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Kashef hill (تلة الكاشف) in the neighbourhood of Ezbet Abd Rabbu (عزبة عبد ربه), east of Jabalia (جباليا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Kashef hill are: 31.523208, 34.501505.

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
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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
    1–2

Sources (27) [ collapse]