Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT100124a

Incident date

January 10, 2024

Location

محيط مستشفى شهداء الأقصى, Vicinity of Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.421036, 34.359309 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Wednesday afternoon, January 10th, 2024, Palestinian journalist Ahmad (Ahmed) Bedir (Bdeir), also called Abu Naeem, was among at least ten civilians killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on a house. Some reports put the death toll as high as 40. Another 30 civilians were reported injured, in the home near the western hospital gate of Al Aqsa Martyrs (Shuhada Al Aqsa) Hospital in Deir Al Balah in the Gaza Strip.

Tamim Basem Al-Habil was the only other named victim of the strike, identified online by May Safi. Safi wrote a condolence message to his “dear friend Àbĕĕŕ Bàsem and her dear family, Em Haytham, Umm Suhaib, on the martyrdom of their younger brother Tamim Al-Habil.” Ahmad k. Habil wrote that Tamim was his cousin, his friend, and his companion during the war.

According to the Palestinian government’s Media Office, the bombardment hit an inhabited house adjacent to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital that had been earlier deemed a safe area by the Israeli military. It also emphasized that many displaced civilians inside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital were killed in the attack.

Twitter/X user Rami Abdul (@RamAbdu) shared a video showing the immediate aftermath of the strike with people running to the place of the explosion to rescue survivors amidst the clouds of dust, passing by the burnt cars and piles of rubble.

Rami Abdul wrote that dozens of civilians were killed. Twitter/X user Howard Beckett also shared Rami Abdul’s video, reporting that over 40 civilians were killed and more injured. Shehab Agency referred to the government’s media office which said that “the bombing led to more than 40 martyrs and wounded.”

“United for the Nation” Facebook account reported that 10 civilians were killed and 30 civilians were injured, according to Palestinian health sources. It also added that among the casualties, in addition to the residents of the house, were displaced people in the hospital yard, journalists, health sector workers, and patients’ families. Twitter/X user @nowgnna wrote that hospital buildings, medical equipment, and ambulances were severely damaged as a result of this airstrike. Safa News Twitter/X account shared images of the destroyed building and damaged ambulances with broken glass in the windows.

According to Twitter/X user @AJA_Palestine and other media sources, the deceased journalist Ahmad Bedir was standing in front of the journalists’ tent at the gate of the hospital and died when shrapnel hit him. Shehab Agency tweeted a photo of the journalist’s elderly mother holding her son’s lifeless hand. It also posted a tweet mourning his death, attaching an image of the middle-aged bearded man in a beige T-shirt holding a mobile phone and smiling at the camera.

“While he was conveying the news, he became the news,” wrote the “Martyrs of Gaza” Twitter/X account in its tribute to the journalist Ahmad. According to Martyrs of Gaza, Ahmad was a hardworking individual who had worked since his childhood and youth selling newspapers and engaging in various professions to support his family and his ailing father. He was also “a loving father to a beautiful child named Na’im and a husband who was loyal, kind, and affectionate.” He was also a theater artist and had a keen interest in politics, literature, and the arts.

Ahmad Bedir used to work for the al-Hadaf (Hadf) media network and several other media outlets, writing news reports and editing articles. The Committee to Protect Journalists emphasized, referring to al-Hadaf media, that Ahmad worked relentlessly during the war to cover the news.

Mustafa Ibraheem wrote in his tribute to the late journalist that Ahmed Badir was one of the brilliant journalists, was professional, and had skills in conducting interviews, dialogue, and editing. Adam Almadhoon shared his memories of Ahmed, saying: “I spent 26 days with Ahmed in the journalists’ tents at Al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, accompanied by a number of colleagues and friends. He was a helpful and cheerful person who did not hesitate to help everyone. He was skilled at preparing food and was creative in his work. His soul is beautiful and elegant.”

Ahmad’s brother Mohammad Naeem Badeer wrote: “You were the best brother, the best father, and the best support. It is true that one does not understand what happened, but this is God’s destiny. May God have mercy on you, Abu Naeem, and make your abode in Paradise.”

Ahmad Bedir was the 115th journalist to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict according to New Arab News referring to the Palestinian government’s media office. The political party the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine mourned the journalist’s death in its statement, having written that he was “known for his brave personality dedicated to his professional and journalistic duty without pause and without any limits”, and adding that the Palestinian media lost one of its best cadres.

His death was also acknowledged by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay who called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its Twitter/X post it “condemns the murder” of Bedir, calling on the international community to “put pressure” on Israel to “stop the massacre of journalists” in Gaza.

Airwars has not identified any additional names of victims killed in the attack.

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

The incident occured at approximately 3:10 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Bedir أحمد بدير
Adult male killed
Tamim Basem Al-Habil تميم باسم الهبيل
Adult male killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike on a residential building in the vicinity of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital (مستشفى شهداء الأقصى), north of the town of Deir Al Balah (محافظة دير البلح). Analysing visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 31.421036, 34.359309.

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  • Imagery:
    Wafa news agency

  • Imagery:
    Wafa news agency

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 41
  • (2 men1 journalist)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (164) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (151) [ collapse]

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    Source: @ShehabAgency

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    Source: @ShehabAgency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Wafa news agency

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    Source: Maron saleh

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    Source: Fathi sabbah

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    Source: Fathi sabbah

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    Source: Alghad tv

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    Source: United for the nation

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    Source: Mustafa ibraheem

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    Source: Alarabiya palestine

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    Source: Wisaam al-faqaawi

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    Source: Hazem zaqout

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    Source: Mohannad abu shamala

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    Source: Omar nazzal

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    Source: Omar nazzal

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    Source: Adam almadhoon

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    Source: Basem khalaf

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    Source: Tamer elmadhoun

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    Source: Aljazeera mubasher channel

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    Source: Marwan Al

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    Source: Raghad al-fanni

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    Source: Emad j. Abushawiesh

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    Source: PJS

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    Source: May safi

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    Source: Ahmad k. Habil

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    Source: Yahya alhabil

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    Source: Ismail elhabil

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    Source: Abed ibrahem

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    Source: Abed ibrahem

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    Source: @nowgnna

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    Source: @nowgnna

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    Source: @AlQastalps

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    Source: @AlQastalps

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    Source: @NabilaYousuf

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    Source: @NabilaYousuf

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @SafaPs

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    Source: @Khabrnews1

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    Source: @Khabrnews1

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    Source: Kashef n zayed

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    Source: Jenine media center

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    Source: Belal al ashi

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    Source: Mohammad naeem badeer

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    Source: Orchid

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

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    Source: Dawn

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestine tv

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    Source: Palestine Tv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad naeem badeer

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    Source: Abdo elqader

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    Source: Umm suhaim

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    Source: Hatem abu tamim

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    Source: Abeer basem

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    Source: Mohammad naeem badeer

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    Source: Mohammad naeem badeer

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    Source: @jacksonhinklle

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    Source: @ShaykhSulaiman

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    Source: @GazaMartyrs

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    Source: @GazaMartyrs

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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    Source: @RamAbdu

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Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10 – 41
  • (2 men1 journalist)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (164) [ collapse]