Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT0609

Incident date

October 25, 2023

Location

شمال قطاع غزة مدرسة أبو حسين بمخيم جباليا, Abu Hussein school, Jabalia camp, North Gaza, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.418995, 34.349442 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Sunday afternoon (at around 16:12), October 20, 2024, at least two civilians were killed and others wounded in an alleged Israeli artillery shelling at the Abu Hussein school affiliated to the UN, in Jabalia camp, North Gaza Strip that destroyed the school building.

Many local and regional networks, including Sawt Beirut News, Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya TV widely covered the incident. However, they didn’t specify the exact number of casualties. Only a few sources, such as Sada Palestine News, Tufan al-Aqsa and Quds SN reported on Twitter that the death toll stood at two. Meanwhile, on Facebook, Amb Rim Rtimi and Radio Alam referred to “a number” of fatalities without providing a precise figure.

A Telegram user Hamza Al-Masri, reporting the words of the Civil Defence, added that the Israeli military prevented the rescue teams from reaching the evacuees who were trapped and injured.

As of now, no further details have been released. Airwars will update the incident should new information become available.

In a photo shared on Twitter by TRT Arabi Now, the building appeared completely destroyed. In the courtyard, burned desks, chairs and cars were nearly unrecognizable.

The incident occurred at around 16:12 local time, according to Safa PS, and it happened at the same time as another artillery shelling in a medical clinic housing displaced people.

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

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Raafat Mahmoud al-Muzain رافت محمود المزين
53 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 909521445
Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Muzain ابراهيم محمود المزين
36 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800715948

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Deir al-Balah (دير البلح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.418995, 34.349442. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Hani

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]