Airwars assessment
In the early hours of June 7th 2024, at least four people were killed and at least seven others were injured in a declared Israeli airstrike on an UNRWA school, west of the Al Wahda Tower, in the Al Shati (Beach) refugee camp, west of Gaza City.
A Facebook post made by Mohamed Awad, a digital creator in Beit Lahia, reported that six people had been killed, though only identified four of the deceased by name: Abu Bilal Thuraya, Saad Allah Abu Al-Amrain (Abu Osama), Akram Aqilan (Abu Baraa), and Khaled Shehadeh.
According to a tweet from Gaza Civil Defense, the school is an UNRWA affiliated school called “Asmaa” housing displaced peoples from two neighbourhoods of the Al-Shati refugee camp.
At 12.22am, a Safa News correspondent first reported there were “martyrs and injured in the bombing of occupation aircraft,” at the school. Soon after, Gaza Civil Defense reported that they had recovered three fatalities a number of wounded from the school. They attributed the strike to the Israeli military, calling it a “massacre”.
Among those killed was Abu Bilal Thuraya, head of the Beach Emergency Committee. Al Quds News Network and Palestine Post reported that he was killed in the bombing of the school.
A photograph of Saad Allah Abu Al-Amrain’s shroud was posted to Facebook on the day of the strike by Mohammed Hammamy. The photograph showed his body surrounded by mourners, with the caption: “The martyrdom of the beloved Saadallah Abu Al-Amrain Abu Osama. Your beloved has come to you, may God have mercy on you and accept you”.
Akram Aqilan was remembered by the Aqilan Family Council Facebook page, which had recorded the killing of 15 other family members during the conflict prior to Akram’s death. “The convoys of martyrs continue to march and a martyr is included in the list of honour from the family’s martyrs,” said the post, accompanied by a selfie of Aqilan and a young girl.
Abu Hamza, a friend and neighbour of Aqilan’s, wrote that he was a “good friend and neighbour”. One of Aqilan’s cousins announced on Facebook that she had received news of his death, mentioning that he left behind a wife and children: “May God give patience to my aunt, his wife, and his children.” Another cousin posted a photo of Aqilan’s shroud on the day of the strike.
Khaled Shehadeh was remembered as “the man of morals and literature, the man of high determination,” by Abed Abo Farah, who said he joined other leaders of the camp who had been killed. “The camp bids farewell every day to a new group of steadfast heroes,” he wrote, adding reference to the killing of Aqilan and Abu Al-Amrain.
Khaled was remembered as “the kind cousin” by his family’s Facebook page, who said he now joined his brothers, Sheikh Riyad Shehadeh Abu Ismail and Sheikh Wajih Shehadeh Abu Moaz, who had previously died. Referring to Khaled, Hussam El-Madhoun, one of Shehadeh’s neighbours, said he “remained alone” after losing more than 18 members of his family. He also recalled memories of him: “Every day, when I went out early in the morning, I used to see him sitting, lighting firewood to prepare bread and food for his family.” Shehadeh was “a man whose heart was attached to the mosques,” wrote Abu Ahmad.
A press statement from the Gaza based Government Media Office issued on June 7 confirmed the strike on Asmaa School, which it called an UNRWA-affiliated shelter centre, and attributed it to Israeli military aircraft. The Gaza Civil Defense also attributed the airstrike to the Israeli military.
The IDF released a statement on Telegram declaring their involvement in the strike, “Earlier today (Friday), the Israeli Air Force with the direction of IDF intelligence and the ISA, targeted Hamas terrorists operating from a container inside the grounds of the ‘Asmaa’ UNRWA school in Shati, Gaza. The container was used as a Hamas Operations Cell and a meeting point for Hamas operatives. Hamas terrorists inside the Operations Cell who were planning imminent attacks were eliminated. Hamas terrorists carried out terror attacks from the U.N. school premises while using it as a shield for their terror activities. Prior to the strike, many steps were taken to mitigate civilian harm. The strike was carried out using precise munitions, leading to a precise strike on the terrorists. The Hamas terror organization systematically, intentionally and strategically places its infrastructure and operates from within civilian areas, in full violation of international law and while putting the lives of Gazan civilians at risk.” The IDF also released an “infographic” which was satellite imagery of an unknown part of the school which they referred to as a “Hamas container.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (24) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]
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Source: Aqilan Family Council -
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Source: Ali Abdulla -
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Source: Abu Hamza -
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Source: @fjr_alywm -
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Source: @refugeesps -
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Source: @AFYemeni -
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Source: Mohhammamy -
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Source: Alsadeek
Israeli Military Assessment:
Original strike reports
IDF: Hamas Terrorists Eliminated While Planning Attacks From Inside UNRWA School Grounds
Earlier today (Friday), the Israeli Air Force with the direction of IDF intelligence and the ISA, targeted Hamas terrorists operating from a container inside the grounds of the 'Asmaa' UNRWA school in Shati, Gaza.
The container was used as a Hamas Operations Cell and a meeting point for Hamas operatives. Hamas terrorists inside the Operations Cell who were planning imminent attacks were eliminated. Hamas terrorists carried out terror attacks from the U.N. school premises while using it as a shield for their terror activities. Prior to the strike, many steps were taken to mitigate civilian harm.
The strike was carried out using precise munitions, leading to a precise strike on the terrorists.
The Hamas terror organization systematically, intentionally and strategically places its infrastructure and operates from within civilian areas, in full violation of international law and while putting the lives of Gazan civilians at risk.
Attached is an infographic of the Hamas container within the UNRWA school grounds: