Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0297

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

مدرسة المغازي الاعدادية للبنين, Al Maghazi Preparatory School for Boys, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.420102, 34.388679 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During the afternoon of Tuesday, 17th of October, 2023, at least ten civilians were killed and dozens were injured in an alleged Israeli airstrike on an UNRWA school located in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip where 4,000 people were taking refuge. However, the death toll may be significantly higher as Twitter/X user @alforgannet wrote that “a large number of civilians, most of them children and women, were martyred and injured.”

The school was run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Al-Ahram news quoted UNRWA as saying, “At least six people were killed this afternoon as a result of the bombing of an UNRWA school in the Maghazi refugee camp in the central region of Gaza.” The source also referenced the statement made by the organization’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, who corroborated that dozens, including UNRWA employees, were injured and that “the school had suffered severe structural damage.” The statement suggested that the casualty numbers were likely to be higher. Urgent From The Rest reported about 10 civilians killed and dozens wounded.

WAFA News Agency and Facebook user “Going Back to Palestine” shared the images showing the aftermath of the deadly strike: the walls of the school with large holes in them, lots of broken furniture and rubble. A graphic video posted by Electronic Al-Nadaa Portal on Facebook showed bodies being carried out of the school.

The sources differed about the nature of the strike. The Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security and some local sources said that the school was hit with artillery while UNRWA reported an airstrike.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Maghazi Preparatory School for Boys (مدرسة المغازي الاعدادية للبنين) to the east of Deir al Balah (دير البلح). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.420102, 34.388679.    

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  • Imagery:
    Hany Abu Zeid

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alam Radio
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: WAFA News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: WAFA News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: WAFA News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: WAFA News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: WAFA News Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hany Abu Zeid
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Going Back to Palestine
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Education
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 24
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]