Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT028

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

خزاعة, Khuza'a, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.307314, 34.360372 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians, a woman and two children, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the town of Khuza’a on May 12, 2021.

According to @NewpressPs, “a Palestinian woman and two children were injured in a bombing in the town of Khuza’a, east of Khan Yunis”. The injuries resulted from the house of the woman injured being struck and ambulance crews evacuated the injured.

A post by Amr Tabash identified the injured woman as being from the al-Najjar family and Pal times 2015 verified that the woman and children were from the same family.

@palsawa added that the house was struck during Israeli targeting of “the Internal Security headquarters near the Education Roundabout, east of Beit Lahia”.

@syr_television identified four air raids as being carried out in Khuza’a and all of the sources that reported on the incident blamed Israeli forces.

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 if this statement directly relates to this event at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A woman from the al-Najjar family was brought to the hospital with injuries following strikes on the town of Khuza’a on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Amr Tabash via Facebook)
  • A woman from the al-Najjar family was brought to the hospital with injuries following strikes on the town of Khuza’a on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Amr Tabash via Facebook)
  • A woman from the al-Najjar family was brought to the hospital with injuries following strikes on the town of Khuza’a on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Amr Tabash via Facebook)
  • A woman was injured now in Al-Najjar neighborhood in Khuza'a, as a result of artillery shelling of the house of a citizen

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Khuza’a (خزاعة), southeast of Khan Younis (خان يونس). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Khuza’a are: 31.307314, 34.360372.

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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (21) [ collapse]