Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT056

Incident date

May 14, 2021

Location

قرب مسجد عبد الرزاق قليبو ، بيت لاهيا, Vicinity of Abdul Razzaq Qalibo Mosque, Beit Lahiya, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.534707, 34.514108 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Beit Lahia on May 14th, 2021, according to multiple sources. Scores of missiles reportedly hit the area around Qlabia Mosque in Glebo hill, destroying it and resulting in the casualties. Two other men identified as members of Al Qassam were also killed.

A single source, @alwatanvoice, reported two fatalities. The majority of sources however reported three or four civilian deaths. The dead were identified as brothers Ahmed Hatem Mahmoud al-Mansi and Yusef al-Mansi, and Ahmed Muhammad Abdel Aziz Sabah, who Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights said was a neighbour. Only the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights provided an identity for the fourth reported victim. Alongside the three names above, it also named Hatem al-Mansi as one of the fatalities. Despite providing four names, they confusingly note only three fatalities.

Both Ahmed Hatem Al-Mansi and Ahmed Mohamed Sabah were identified by Al Qassam as “Mujahid Qassami” in memorial posts for both of them. Neither of the other two men were reported to be associated with militant groups.

According to the Palestinian Centre of Human Rights, five minutes after the mosque was hit residents rushed to house of Hatem al-Mansi which was on its southern side as they believed it had been targeted. It reported, “When the residents arrived at al-Mansi’s house and entered it, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the house garden. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 brothers, were killed while 5 others, including a woman, were injured. One of those injured sustained serious wounds.”

Anadolu Agency reported that about 30 air raids targeted the area of Glebo hill that night. PCHR reported five injuries as a result of this incident, while @alwatanvoice reported six and Almasry Alyoum claimed dozens citing Ma’an News.

The last Facebook post from Yusef al-Mansi was shared by Quds News Network and others, during which he wrote: “These could be our last hrs as the next strikes may kill us. Whoever has grudge against me, please forgive me because I swear I never meant to hurt anyone. I bear witness that there is no God by Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger”. A video also circulated on social media of the brother of Yusef and Ahmed al-Mansi, Mohammad al-Mansi, reacting to the realisation that they were among the casualties. He was reportedly a photographer covering the events from the hospital at the time.

The brothers were identified as twins by @MuathHumaid but other sources indicated at least a ten year age gap between them. The same source also shared an image of Yusef al-Mansi in uniform, possibly the uniform of a Gaza police officer. The Chief General of Police, Major General Mahmoud Salah, also identified Yusef as a member of the police force.

One source indicated the casualties came from Israeli shelling, not airstrikes.

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

22 years old male Yusef was reportedly killed alongside his brother Ahmed killed
34 years old male Ahmed was reportedly killed alongside his brother Yusef

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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
    2

Sources (59) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • Images show the damaged to the Abdul Razzaq Qalibo reportedly targeted by Israeli airstrike on May 14th, 2021.(Image via @khaledalzoubii_)
  • The mosque prior to its destruction. (Image posted by @khaledalzoubii_)
  • Aftermath of the May 14th, 2021 incident which destroyed a mosque and reportedly killed three civilians in a nearby garden. (Image posted by @RassdNewsN)
  • Image of the destruction caused to a mosque in Beit Lahia by reported Israeli strikes on May 14th, 2021. (Image posted by @RassdNewsN)
  • Image of Yusef al-Mansi. Shown in uniform, possibly the uniform of Gaza police officers. (Image posted by @MuathHumaid)
  • Translated image caption: The martyr Ahmed Sabah, who rose a little while ago in the violent raids that targeted the Qalibo Mosque and its surroundings in the northern Gaza Strip. (Posted by @5br3ajel)
  • Yusef al-Mansi who was reportedly killed on May 14th, 2021 alongside a brother and neighbour. (Image posted by @Betelgeuse100)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video from the scene of the May 14th, 2021 incident. Shows the victims being put into ambulances. (Video posted by @AhmadNbaly)
  • Translated image caption: The moment the warplanes launched a series of violent raids on safe houses in the Qalibo area, east of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. (Video posted by @paltimes2015)
  • Ahmed al-Mansi who was reportedly killed by heavy Israeli strikes on May 14th, 2021. His brother also died. (Image posted by Ayman Abo Omar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of Ahmed al-Mansi following the reported airstrike that took his life on May 14th, 2021. (Image posted by Ayman Abo Omar)
  • Ahmed al-Mansi who was reportedly killed by heavy Israeli strikes on May 14th, 2021. His brother also died. (Image posted by Ayman Abo Omar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Ahmed Muhammad Abdel Aziz Sabah seemingly taken from the morgue. He was killed by a reported Israeli airstrike on May 14th, 2021 in Beit Lahia. (Image posted by @abomohammed40)
  • Caption: The call to prayer over the rubble of the Qlaibo mosque that was destroyed by Israeli warplanes in northern Gaza. (Video posted by Press TV)
  • Video reportedly shows brother of two of the deceased in the hospital. He was reportedly covering the incident and reacts to realising his brothers are among the dead . (Video via @mohamed_mdn)
  • Ahmed Hatem Al-Mansi, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Hatem Al-Mansi, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Hatem Al-Mansi, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Hatem Al-Mansi, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Mohamed Sabah, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Mohamed Sabah, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Mohamed Sabah, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Ahmed Mohamed Sabah, identified as a "Mujahid Qassami by Al Qassam, was killed in airstrikes on Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam)
  • Aftermath of the May 14th, 2021 incident which destroyed a mosque and reportedly killed three civilians in a nearby garden. (Image posted by @RassdNewsN)
  • Aftermath of the May 14th, 2021 incident which destroyed a mosque and reportedly killed three civilians in a nearby garden. (Image posted by @RassdNewsN)
  • Aftermath of the May 14th, 2021 incident which destroyed a mosque and reportedly killed three civilians in a nearby garden. (Image posted by @ShehabAgency)
  • Image of the Qalibo Mosque before it was bombed on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by @Mohsobhi84)
  • Image of one of the victims of the bombing of Qalibo Mosque on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by @Mohsobhi84)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the vicinity of the Abdul Razzaq Qalibo (عبد الرزاق قليبو) mosque. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Abdul Razzaq Qalibo mosque are: 31.534707, 34.514108.

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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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
    2

Sources (59) [ collapse]