Shortly after 5am on August 10th 2024, during dawn prayers, a series of Israeli airstrikes struck the Al Tabi’een school in the Al Sahaba area of the Al Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City. The school was a temporary home to “around 2,400” displaced people; at least 72 civilians were found to have been killed, with at least 54 others wounded. At least five militants were also killed, and two other fatalities have been recorded with contested civilian status.

The strikes would later be confirmed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee, with the military also publishing a list of 31 names and profiles released of the targeted individuals.

Airwars was able to identify at least 88 casualties by name in the incident, including 79 fatalities. Among this list were 27 individuals who also appeared in the IDF list of targeted individuals. In all but two of these cases, Airwars could not yet find information online that definitively linked these individuals to militant groups or activities. In five cases, Airwars found information online that detailed the professions of these individuals – including two academics and a deputy mayor. Three of those named by the IDF were also found amongst reports of those killed in incidents prior to this event; these cases and sources have been listed below.

In line with Airwars’ methodology, Airwars assumes civilian status unless there is evidence found through open sources that links individuals to militant groups. Airwars does not take statements from perpetrators as definitive without any further corroborating source (for example, individuals named by the US as militants in other contexts have later been corrected after further investigation – as in this 2023 strike in Syria). However Airwars has listed below if an individual found through open sources also appeared on the IDF lists, and should further information be revealed about these individuals the civilian casualty count will be adjusted accordingly.

Airwars found the names of at least seven children among the dead and three women; the Palestinian Civil Defense put the death toll at 11 children and six women.

The strikes, which were reported to be three in short succession, hit the school and an internal prayer room that displaced worshippers had recently created. That the strikes occurred during the dawn Fajr prayers may account for the high casualty figures.

The destruction was immense, with social media and news platforms highlighting the ferocity of the strikes. Al-Ain News alleged that “the bodies of [some people] caught fire, devouring them to the point that it destroyed the lumps of flesh that made up the human skeleton, leaving nothing to indicate its owner.” Families were reported to have collected bags of body parts by the kilo in order to provide a proper burial. Al-Arabiya News corroborated that multiple families lost so many members as to be totally destroyed: “entire families [were] wiped out in the massacre.”

al-Ghafri Family

Multiple members of the al-Ghafri family were killed in the strikes; the death toll in the family was so extensive that Facebook user Mahmoud Essa wrote that the al-Ghafri family was “erased from the civil registry”.

Ashraf Rafiq Al-Abd al-Ghafri “Abu Rafiq” was killed, along with Muhammad Ramadan Ishtiwi al-Ghafri “Abu Khattab.” Holding a master’s degree from the Faculty of Usul al-Din at the Islamic University, Muhammad was remembered as a “dear friend” who was killed with his entire family.

Ashraf and Muhammad were listed by the IDF among the 31 targets of the incident, naming them as Hamas operatives. As Airwars could find no corroborating information online that linked Ashraf or Muhammad to a militant group, they have been classified as civilians unless further information comes to light.

Muhammad’s wife, Asmaa Talat Asaad al-Ghafri was also killed, as were the couple’s daughters: Israa Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri*, Rimas Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri*, and Sundus Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri*. Their three sons, Khattab Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri*, Elias Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri* and Osama Muhammad Ramadan al-Ghafri* were also killed. Another relative, Abdullah Ramadan al-Ghafri, was also killed. Surviving family member Bilal al-Ghafri posted a memorial on Facebook, including prayers in her writing. Bilal wrote of her belief that “those who are killed in the way of Allah [are not] dead.” Instead, she emphasized, “they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”

al-Jabri Family 

90-year-old Mahmoud al-Jabri survived the initial strike only to die six days later, reportedly from severe shock from the incident. Kat Nasser, writing on Facebook, said that “Abu Nabil swallowed his grief and his oppression, and his heart stopped a short while ago.” Mahmoud’s son, Nabil Mohammed al-Jabri, was killed in the strike. Along with Nabil, father and son Ziad Bakr al-Jabri and Barham Ziad al-Jabri (a militant) were killed.

When Airwars first published this incident on August 10, 2024, no open sources were found to suggest that Barham Ziad al-Jabri was a militant. As such, Barham Ziad al-Jabri was recorded as a civilian. This was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status‘. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.

On June 24, 2026, Made al-Zaytoun, published a tribute to Barham Ziad al-Jabri, identifying him as a “martyred fighter”. As such, Airwars updated Barham Ziad al-Jabri’s status from civilian to militant, and changed the minimum number of civilians reportedly killed in this incident accordingly.

Barham’s activities in Gaza were described by sources as helping the newly displaced, with Facebook user Mohammed Jihad al-Dalo sharing a video purporting to show Barham, who appears to be a teenager, speaking into the camera and seemingly interviewing children about their experiences. “Despite his young age,” Mohammed wrote, “he was working silently to meet the needs of the people in the midst of famine in northern Gaza since the beginning of the war when everyone abandoned them.”

Other members of the al-Jabri family were also killed: Ihab Bakr al-Jabri, Mahmoud Ihab al-Jabri and Tamam Saeed al-Jabri. Amal Saeed al-Jabri, reportedly the sister of Hamas leader Ahmed al-Jabri who was killed in 2012, was also killed. A man named Ahmed Ihab Bakr al-Jabri was listed by the IDF as a Hamas operative and targeted in this incident, though an individual with this name was also reported killed in an incident in December (see below).

An individual named Ahmed Hammad Al-Jabri was also reportedly killed in this incident, and was named alongside Ihab Bakr Al-Jabri by the IDF as members of Islamic Jihad. When Airwars published this incident on August 10, 2024, there was no indication through sources online that Ihab Al-Jabri was participaing in hostilities or was a member of a militant group.

However one source in a comment on Facebook by Sami Al Jabri referencing Ahmed’s death noted: “the brave streets and the alleys of #Gaza bears witness to the fiercest fighters”. Given the ambiguity in his militant status, Airwars graded Ahmed’s civilian status as ‘contested’ and excluded him from the minimum civilian range until further information comes to light.

On July 5, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)’s militant wing, published a tribute to Ahmed Al-Jabri, identifying him as a fighter. As such, Airwars updated Ahmed Al-Jabri’s’s status from civilian to militant. As Ahmed had been recorded with a contested civilian status, the change did not change the quantification of civilian harm recorded in this incident.

13-year-old Omar Yasser al-Jabri was critically injured during the strike, and succumbed to his injuries three days later on August 13, 2024. Photographs were shared of Omar on social media, showing the child lying on a hospital bed in Kamal Aswan Hospital. Severely burned, bandages covered his entire torso and arms; burns were clearly visible on his face. Omar’s brother, Mahmoud Yasser al-Jabri who may have also been a child, was killed, as was their mother, Umm Ahmed al-Jabri. The IDF listed a Mahmoud Yasser Mahmoud Al-Ghabri as being targeted in this incident, though it is unclear if this is the same individual as Omar’s brother.

Surviving relative Asem al-Jabri posted on Facebook to mourn the loss of “a large number of cousins” who had been killed. She emphasized others had been “seriously injured,” including an uncle, Siddiq Saeed al-Jabri. Other injured members of the al-Jabri family included Mohammed Ihab al-Jabri, Ahmed Yasser al-Jabri, Hamza Yasser al-Jabri, Asmaa Riyad al-Jabri, Manour Rajab al-Jabri, Tamam Mohammed al-Jabri and Naeem Ziad al-Jabri. The extent of their injuries has not been made publicly available. Naeem was also listed among those killed by the IDF in their statement about the incident, described as a Combat propaganda operative in the Islamic Jihad. As Airwars was unable to find any corroborating information through open sources that linked Naeem to a militant group or indicated that he was killed in the incident, he has been classified as an injured civilian unless further information comes to light.

al-Basyouni Family

Sheikh Abdul Qader Hassan al-Basyouni “Abu Ahmed” was killed in the strike. Photographs shared on social media pictured Abdul Qader as an elderly man clothed in religious garment. His son, Nidal Abdul Qader al-Basyouni “Abu Al-Abd” was also killed. Numerous condolence posts for father and son were shared by friends and relatives on social media.

Abdul Qader’s son-in-law Subhi Mansour Abu Awda “Abu Ihab” was also killed. Ahmad Yousef on Facebook remembered Subhi as a “dear childhood and school friend.” A photograph was attached of Subhi standing in front of the destroyed façade of a building.

Abu Asr Family 

Ahed Hassan Abu Asr “Abu Hani” was killed with his son, Hassan Ahed Abu Asr. They were remembered by Facebook user Musa’ab Abu Asr, who posted a video of the funeral of “beloved” Ahed and Hassan. Along with them, Bilal Abu Asr was also killed. Bilal was listed by the IDF as serving a ‘logistic function in Hamas’ general security’. The IDF noted that he had previously been a rockets and mortars officer. Airwars could find no link online between Bilal and any militant group or activity, and so he has therefore been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Habib Family 

Three members of the Habib family were reported killed. Brothers Muhammad Jabr Habib and Moamen Jabr Habib were killed, as was their cousin, Mohammed Ramadan Habib. Moamen was listed by the IDF as a Hamas operative and named among the targets for this incident. As Airwars could find no corroborating information that linked Moamen to a militant group, he has been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

al-Zaim Family 

Of the al-Zaim family, Anwar Saad Al-Zaim “Abu Ahmed” and Shadi Raafat Al-Zaim “Abu Raafat” were reported killed. Shadi Raafat was named by the IDF as one of the 31 targets in the strike, listed as a Hamas operative. As Airwars could find no information online that indicated he was a militant or was participating in hostilities, Airwars has classified Shadi as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Mahani Family 

Four members of the Mahani family were announced dead. Brothers Saad Mustafa Mahani, Aboud Mustafa Mahani and Ahmed Mustafa Mahani were killed. Another relative, Zeina Youssef Mahani was also reported killed.

Bakhit Family 

Of the Bakhit family, Naseeba Jihad Bakhit and Retaj Jihad Bakhit were killed. Cousin Fedaa Kaly wrote a commemoration post on Facebook, as did friend Nour Mohammad who wrote that,“with this great affliction and with hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny, we offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to all members” of the Bakhit family for the loss.

Abu Halima Family 

Sheikh Nabhan Harb Abu Halima was killed, and posthumously remembered by nephew Suleiman Abu Halima as “beloved” in a Facebook post. Along with Nabhan, Harb Abu Halima was also killed and was remembered as “virtuous” and “good-natured.” With their deaths, Suleiman wrote, they became “more honorable than all of us,” as they gained “a seat of truth with the Almighty King.”

Individuals

Ahmed Maher Sharaf “Abu Obeida” was reported to have been killed in the strike. Ahmed had spent most of the war in the north of Gaza, reportedly sending his family and children south for safety. His father had died two weeks before the August strike; posters on social media noted that Ahmed had not been able to say goodbye because of the ban on movement. Remembered as “pious and pure” and “the best and most excellent of young men,” Ahmed’s sister-in-law attached a picture of Ahmed hugging his two young daughters. His wife Hana remembered him as her “soul” and the “light of [her] eye.” Cousin Hishram F Sharaf was comforted that with his death, Ahmed “joined his father who passed away 20 days ago.”

Bilal Qasim “Abu Malik Bilal” was also killed in the strike after coming to temporarily live in the school during his displacement. A graduate of the College of Islamic Propagation, Bilal became a sheikh and was remembered by his friend Meedo Mshar as his “good-natured neighbor.” Meedo attached a photograph of Bilal in religious clothing to his post.

Wael Qassem was also reportedly killed. His two brothers had reportedly been killed in earlier incidents in the war. Along with Wael. The IDF listed Wael as a Hamas operative and among the targets for this strike. Airwars could find no corroborating information linking Wael to a militant group, so he has been classified as a civilian. This will be updated should additional information become available.

With them, engineer Muhammad Abu Hayya “Abu Zaki” was also killed after being displaced to the school. Muhammad’s sister Fatma Saki Abu Hayya remembered him in a Facebook memorial post. Remembering that he had promised her 15 years prior that he would not “upset [her] for the rest of [his] life,” Fatma wrote that he had made her “very, very, very happy.” To Fatma, Muhammad was “the best brother, the piece of [her] soul.” He indeed had “kept [his] promise.” Fatma admitted she could not adequately write about the loss: “There are no words to say in your absence [as] a brother like you cannot be mourned with words, for all the words in the world are not enough to mention your virtues and enumerate your achievements.” The IDF listed Muhammad among the targets of this incident, referring to him as a Hamas operative. As there was no corroborating information online linking him to a militant group, Airwars has classified him as a civilian until further information comes to light.

Injured Mohamed Omar al-Masry seemingly died from his injuries four days after the strike, on August 14, 2024.

Yousef Shahada al-Kahlout “Abu Osama”, a professor of literature and criticism at the Islamic University was remembered by relative Ahmed al-Kahloot as a “friend and companion” and someone who was “dear” to him. A smiling photograph of Yousef was attached. The IDF listed Yousef as a member of Hamas’ central leadership, and named Yousef among the 31 targets of this incident. As Airwars could find no sources online that linked Yousef to any militant group, Yousef has been listed as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

The Director of Gaza Endowments, Dr. Muhammad Hassan Abu Saada “Abu Anas” was also killed. Holding a master’s degree in Engineering and another in Religious Principles, Muhammad was an imam. Remembered by Facebook user and relative Abdalla Abu Sa’ada as “the preacher, the educator, the martyr,” it appears Muhammad was the imam leading the dawn prayers before the strike. A photograph attached to the post showed Muhammad in religious garb; the pro-Hamas Shehab Agency similarly posted a video of Muhammad reciting prayers. He had sent a text message prior to the strike urging worshippers to attend a Quran seminar at the school. Muhammad was one of 31 individuals named as a Hamas operative by the Israeli Defense Force. As there was no indication through open sources that Muhammad was participating in hostilities or a member of a militant group, and based on the description of Muhammad as having a civilian role, Airwars has classified him as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Deputy mayor of Beit Hanoun Abdul Aziz Misbah Al-Kafarna “Abu Mohsen” was also killed in the strike. Facebook user Naser al-Kafarneh offered condolences to the family of Abdul Aziz. It was not a “goodbye,” Naser wrote, but rather a “see you later.” Also on Facebook, Mustaz el-Kafarna remembered Abdul Aziz as a Professor and “well-mannered” and “beloved” man who graced those around him with an “everlasting smile.” Photographs were shared of Abdul Aziz, microphone in hand, speaking at events. The IDF named Abdul Aziz as a Hamas Emergency Committees Operative, and listed him alongside the 31 named targets of the strike. However as there was no indication through open sources that Abdul Aziz was participating in hostilities or a member of a militant group, and given that he was widely described as having a civilian role – Airwars has classified him as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Moataz Rajab “Abu al-Baraa” was also killed in the strike. Moataz had a master’s degree in Regional and International Studies from the Faculty of Economics and Sciences at the Islamic University and was remembered by brother-in-law Anas al-Nabeh as “one of the best people in character, manners, knowledge, wisdom and humility.”

Majdi Muhammad al-Tatar “Abu al-Moatasem”, an athlete and swimming school owner and instructor was also killed in the strike. Acknowledged as one of the predominant athletic trainers in Gaza after losing a leg in an accident when he was ten years old, Majdi was a member of Palestinian Paralympic Swimming Team and had “represented Palestine in several international forums.” Many of his family members had been killed: Majdi lost his eldest son in a bombardment at the beginning of the war. With his death, Facebook user Um Mohammad wrote, Majdi “joins his brothers Muhammad and Ahmad and his nephews [in] the highest paradise.” He had, Um Mohammad wrote, “unparalleled ambition, determination and will” and was a “champion” in swimming and nunchaku, a form of Kung Fu. Facebook user Mariam Muhammed attached numerous photos of Majdi, including one where he is riding a bicycle, another posing with a trophy, and one where he balances on a pair of forearm crutches, lifting his leg above his head. In her final photo, Majdi is dressed in more formal wear, smiling at the camera.

Zayed Yassin al-Dalo “Abu Adi” was also killed in the strike. Displaced during the war, Zayed owned the “barber shop on Awlad Sidi Ibrahim Street.” He was remembered as a “beloved hero brother” by relative Ahmed el-Dalow.

Amjad Muhammad al-Yemeni “Abu Muslimah” was also killed. A former student at the University College of Applied Sciences, Amjad later became a traffic policeman. His brother Ayman had been killed a few months prior, and photographs of the brothers were shared on social media. Brother-in-law Mahmoud al-Amoudi remembered Amjad for his religious dedication, lauding him for his strict observance of Ramadan and commitment to his prayers. Mahmoud wrote that he had never uttered a “bad word or bad expression” and was dedicated to his community: “When the war started […] he sold his car so he used to […] donate a fixed amount every day [from its selling] until he spent the entire amount.” The IDF named Amjad as one of the 31 operatives targeted that day, describing Amjad as a Platoon Commander in Hamas. As no information was found through open sources that indicated Amjad was either participating in hostilities or a member of an armed group, he has been classified as a civilian until further information comes to light.

Yousef Shwaidih was killed in the strike. Nicknamed Abu al-Baraa, Yousef was remembered as the “son of the Zeitoun” neighborhood. He had completed his studies at al-Azhar University in the field of education. Yousef was named by the IDF as one of the 31 Hamas operatives targeted in the attack. At least one source online, Rajab Shaheen on Facebook, referenced Yousef with the term ‘Colonel’. Other sources outside of Gaza accused Yousef of being a ‘mujahid’ though these accounts did not appear to be directly connected to Yousef. As there was no other corroborating information beyond these terms and there remains some ambiguity as to their application in this context, Airwars has marked his status as ‘contested’ until further information comes to light (meaning he is not counted in our minimum civilian casualty range).

Murad Rajab Shamlakh (a militant) was killed and remembered by Facebook user Sofian Tafesh as a dear friend, and a “brother and teacher.” Murad was likely also named by the IDF (though potentially as ‘Murad Shamaleh Abu Malek’) as a militant, listed as a Combat Propaganda Operative in the Islamic Jihad.

Yousef al-Shoubaki (a militant) was also killed. With his death, relative Ahmed al-Shoubaki wrote, Yousef “went to [his] Creator,” attaching a photo of his cousin. The IDF listed Yousef as a Hamas operative and among the targets for this strike.

When Airwars first published this incident on August 10, 2024, no open sources were found to suggest that Murad Rajab Shamlakh or Yousef al-Shoubaki were militants, so they was recorded as civilians. This was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status‘. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.

On March 19, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), published a tribute to Murad Rajab Shamlakh, identifying him as a “commander”. On April 20, the group posted another batch of tributes for commanders, including one for Yousef al-Shoubaki. As such, Airwars updated Murad Rajab Shamlakh and Yousef al-Shoubaki’s statuses from civilian to militant and updated the minimum number of civilian fatalities accordingly.

Muhammad Hamed al-Tayyif “Abu Hamed” was also killed. Remembered as a “virtuous educator,” Muhammad was a member of Referees’ Forum for sports games and the public relations coordinator for the Shuja’iyya Reform Committee and a member of the Retirees’ Association. His daughter-in-law Rania posted a smiling photo of Muhammad and wrote a tribute after his death. After hearing of the strike on the school, Rania “called…to check on him but he did not answer, and at that moment I had no nerves left and my heart was trembling.” He was, Rania emphasized, “like a father to me” and “the best and most compassionate uncle in the whole world.” He called her every day to tell her “Rania, you are as precious as Montaser [his son and Rania’s deceased husband].” The IDF named Muhammad as a Hamas operative, and listed him among the 31 targets for this strike. As Airwars was not able to find any further information online that indicated that he was a member of an armed group, he has been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Mahmoud Masoud was killed, as was Mohammed Jabr Harara “Abu Ibrahim”. The Harara family “in the homeland and abroad” posted a commemoration post on Facebook asking “God Alright to have mercy on him and to grant him a place in His spacious gardens.” Mohammed Jabr Hararah was named by the IDF as one of 31 targets in the attack, listed as the Deputy Terrorist Cell Commander in Hamas. However as Airwars has not found any open source information to corroborate this designation, Mohammed has been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Abdullah Samir al-Areer “Abu al-Nour” was killed, and subsequently remembered by friend Mahmoud Harara as his “dear and precious friend and brother,” attaching a smiling photo of Abdullah. Another friend, Doaa Harazeen, similarly posted that Abdullah’s death ushered in “a day full of pain.” The IDF listed Abdullah among the targets for this incident, describing him as a Cell Commander in the Islamic Jihad. As Airwars could find no corroborating information online linking him to a militant group, Abdullah has been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Obaida Hamid Saeed Madoukh “Abu Omar” was killed, and mourned by his uncle Abu Mohammad Madouakh in a Facebook post. Sharing a prayer, Abu Mohammad wrote that he was “truly saddened by [Obaida’s] departure.” The IDF listed Obaida as a Section Head in the military intelligence, with a former role as a platoon commander. As there was no information online otherwise linking Obaida to militant groups or activities, Airwars has classified him as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Youssef Sayed Saleh al-Wadiah was also killed, and was remembered by his friend Atef Sukkar as a “dear friend.” Atef attached a picture of Youssef, arms crossed and smiling.

Abdul Karim Rushdi Hamad was also killed. Lauded for his religious dedication, Abdul Karin was remembered by Facebook user Hassan al-Akkad as someone who had memorized the Quran. In a photograph shared by Mohamed Awad, Abdul Karim is seen wearing a thawb, a religious garment. The IDF listed Abdul Karim as a Hamas operative, and named him among the 31 targets of this strike. As Airwars could find no further information online that linked Abdul to any militant group, he has been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Family members Eid Rafiq Atallah and Ramzi Hafez Atallah were killed in the strike. Mohammad Atallah, mourning Eid and Ramzi, wrote that they “loved each other in this world and welcomed each other in the same grave.”

Ali Abdul Rahman Youssef Haraz was killed, as was Hussein Jamil al-Safadi. Luay Jamil al-Safadi emphasized Hussein’s religious dedication, writing that the teenager was a “memorizer of the Book of God.” Highly graphic photographs were shared after Hussein’s death; a severe wound on the right side of his head is very visible. A second photo showed Hussein wrapped in a body bag, flowers scattered on top.

Tareq Al Safadi (Abu Muhammad), the muezzin of the dawn prayer at al-Tabi’een school, died of the wounds he sustained during the strike on August 24th. El Hassan Ali Baker, the cousin of Tareq’s mother (Naha Abdul Karim Bakr) and Mohammed Al Sheikh, the husband of Tareq’s niece, both posted memorials for Tareq, along with an image of Tareq who appeared to be a young man.

Iyad Yahya al-Amriti “Abu Anas” was killed, as was Osama Muhammad Majid. A video posted by Sabri al-Tamimi shows Osama, a young boy, memorizing the Quran.

Ibrahim Mustafa Hamad was also killed. Facebook user Osama Mustafa asked that Ibrahim “be granted the highest paradise,” and remembered him as “dear” and “the light of my eyes.”

When Airwars first published this incident on August 10, 2024, no open sources were found to suggest that Ibrahim Mustafa Hamad was a militant, so he was recorded as a civilian. This was in line with Airwars’ methodology which is employed across all conflicts we document, and informed by international standards regarding the ‘presumption of civilian status‘. Specifically, as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, civilian status is assumed until evidence is identified to the contrary.

On June 10, 2026, a Telegram account affiliated with Hamas’ militant wing, Al-Qessam Brigades, published a tribute to Ibrahim Mustafa Hamad, identifying him as a “commander”. As such, Airwars updated Ibrahim Mustafa Hamad’s status from civilian to militant and updated the minimum number of civilian fatalities accordingly.

Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Abu Ras “Abu Hamza” was also killed. Muhammad’s nephew, Salah Riyad, posted on Facebook that “with a heart full of sorrow” the family announced the death of Muhammad, a sheikh who had dedicated himself “to spread the religion of his Prophet and please his Lord.” With his death, Salah wrote, “Allah Almighty chose for him a good end in one of the houses of Allah.” Attached was a photograph of Muhammad, an elderly man dressed in a thawb.

Sameh Ahmed Qassem “Abu Ahmed” was killed. He was remembered by his wife’s uncle Abu Hussam Jaarour Hazem as someone with a “cheerful face” and a “kind heart.” To describe him accurately, Abu Hussam wrote, was impossible: “No matter how much I talk about him, I will not [be able to] give him his due.”

Shaaban Yassin “Abu al-Moatasem” was also killed. Friend and relative Abu Adel Hanouneh mourned the death of his “dear and affectionate cousin” but was consoled that, in death, Shaaban was “in a better place than this world and its torment.” Another friend, Abdul Rahim Arafat, wrote that Shaaban’s death had made understanding and living through the war much more difficult. Previously, he wrote, “when they asked me, How are you? I would say: Thank God, as long as the souls are fine, we are fine. Property and what we own do not matter.” With Shaaban’s death, “the cost of sacrifice [had] increased.” Abdul attached a photo of the two men, smiling into the camera.

A child, Ahmed Saber Obaid, was killed, as was Hussein Akram Zeno. Hussein’s nephew, Mohammad Reda, remembered Hussein as the “best father and support,” and “in everyone’s hearts.” The IDF listed Hussein as a Hamas operative and named him as one of the targets of this strike. Airwars could find no other indication through open source that linked Hussein to a militant group, and so he has therefore been classified as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Sand Jaarour was also killed. His nephew, writing on Facebook, remembered Sand as “My uncle, my support, and the apple of my eye […] and dutiful to his parents.” He highlighted Sand’s religious dedication as ‘the preserver and guardian of the Book of Allah.” The family was comforted that Sand had “departed as [… ] a worshipper and a praying man.” According to Facebook user Khaled Jamal Ryan al-Qudomi, volunteers and rescue crews were unable to find Sand’s remains, and so “prayed the funeral prayer for him in absentia.” Sand was listed among those killed in the incident by the IDF, who named Sand as a Hamas operative. As Airwars could find no corroborating information linking Sand to militant groups or activities, he has been classified as a civilian until further information comes to light.

Civil Defense Officer Hamed Mohammed Zeno was killed, and a child, Anas Naser Obaid, was severely burned. A video shared on Facebook by Mohammed Obaid shows Anas lying in hospital, his body wrapped in bandages. Conscious, Anas was able to speak to the camera. The IDF listed Hamed Zeno as a Hamas sniper operative and named Hamed as one of the targets of this incident. As this was not otherwise corroborated by open sources, Airwars has classified Zeno as a civilian unless further information comes to light.

Death toll

Many others were unable to be identified, as bodies had been destroyed. Al Jazeera Palestine, quoting Marwan al-Hamas, the Director of Field Hospitals at the Ministry of Health wrote that “there were 250 worshipers in the prayer hall of the Al-Tabi’een School where the massacre took place, including children and the elderly. We received 100 [deceased] and more, and those who are less than that are counted among the [deceased].” Facebook user Myskaik claimed 125 people had been killed. This has been taken as the upper casualty estimate by Airwars given the context of the reporting. The minimum estimate, 78, accounts for all those named fatalities excluding the ‘contested’ status of one of the individuals listed by the IDF in their target list. These militants have otherwise been included in the upper belligerent range.

Al Jazeera also shared a “circulating photo of the remains of the [dead] of the Al-Tabi’in School massacre in Gaza after they were collected in plastic bag.” Every 70 kilograms of severed body parts, the source posted, was “being counted as one [person].”  The platform also quoted a parent as saying they “took 18 kilos of body parts and buried them as the body of my martyred son.” Survivors had severe injuries. Safa News posted a video of a Omar al-Jabair, a young boy with heavily severe burns, speaking about the strike. Kataeb News, quoting the Civil Defense, believed “54 [people had been] wounded.”

Twitter/X user @Sa7atPlBreaking alleged that the injured were transported to the Baptist Hospital, where most “suffered complete burns and amputations.” Some, the post claimed, died “on the operating tables due to lack of medical equipment.”

Survivors were comforted that those killed had been in the midst of worship. The congregants, Facebook user Ahmed el-Dalow wrote, “performed the dawn prayer on earth and completed it in heaven.” Photographs taken of the debris showed blood-stained Qurans. After the strike, Mahmoud Basal, the spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, claimed that “the bodies of the citizens caught fire.” And that “nearly 90%” of those in the prayer hall were killed.

A photograph taken the moment of the strikes captured the scale of the incident. A tower of fire is clearly visible, with dust swarming tents in the foreground of the image. Photographs taken after the incident show bodies crusted with blood, clothing having been ripped off in the strike.

Wafa News posted a video of “citizens inspect[ing]” the destruction; one man, face contorted in sadness, is seen hugging a boy, presumably his son or other family member. A video postured by Al Jazeera Palestine shows bodies shrouded in blankets, civil defense members tucking sheets around the bodies. Multiple pictures of funeral prayers were shared, mourners bowed over shrouded bodies.

Another video, posted by PS Online, showed a father cradling a small body bag containing the remains of his young son. Rubbing his face on the cloth, the father can be seen crying into the remains, until a man takes the body to lay on the ground for funeral rites.

Munitions

A number of newspapers, including the Arab Observer and Annahar News, speculated that the strike was conducted by MK 84 air-delivered bombs – which at 2,000 pounds each are among the heaviest and most destructive munitions in modern militaries’ arsenals. However, there was no evidence of remnants of these munitions available via open source. A number of munition remnants were documented that appeared to be from the GBU39 – a smaller, US-manufactured 250-pound guided air-delivered bomb. Quoting CNN, Annahar wrote that “Israel used at least one American-made precision-guided bomb during a raid on the Al-Tabi’in school and mosque in Gaza City.” CNN, on information from former explosive ordnance disposal technician in the US Army Trevor Paul, “confirmed [the explosion] was from a small-diameter bomb, the GBU-39.”

The munitions have been classified on Airwars’ separate archive and classification tool, the Open Source Munitions Portal – see images OSMP679 and OSMP691.

Presence of militants

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, claiming initially that 19 terrorists had been eliminated; a figure that later increased to 31. Avichay Adraee, the IDF Arabic-language spokesman, wrote a statement posted to Twitter/X: “A short while ago, under intelligence guidance from the Military Intelligence, the Shin Bet and the Southern Command, an aircraft struck terrorists operating in a military command post located inside the ‘Al-Tabi’in’ school, located next to a mosque in the Al-Daraj and Al-Tuffah areas, which is used as a shelter for the city’s residents.” Hamas, Adraee claimed, “used the command post to hide and promote various terrorist attacks against IDF forces and the State of Israel.” Adraee further maintained that “several steps were taken to reduce the possibility of civilian casualties” which consisted of “the use of ammunition specific to the type of strike and the use of aerial photographs and other intelligence information.”

Rassd Tunisia wrote that the Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, Ismail al-Thawabta responded to the Israeli military’s accounts as “full of lies and false information.” Hamas has claimed there were “no militants” in the school.

In a Facebook post, Adraee denied “causing [the] level of destruction that matches the reports of the Government Media Office in Gaza.”

Tahaqaq Press Service refuted claims made by Adraee, noting that at least two of those on the list had been killed in prior incidents – including Munther Nasr Daher, alleging that “the young man’s real name is Muntaser Nasr Daher, not Munther, and he was [killed] a day before the massacre.” Tahaqaq reported that “Montaser is an architect who owns a contracting company, and is about 30 years old. He does not belong to any political or partisan organization and has no military work or activities.”

Airwars has identified three of the alleged militants as having been killed in earlier incidents: Youssef Sayed al-Wadaia killed on the 8th of August (forthcoming incident ISPT080824q, with Mohammed Alwadiya posting on Facebook a tribute to Youssef at the time), Munther/Montaser Nasr Daher killed on the 9th of August (forthcoming incident ISPT090824m, with Mohamed Awad announcing his death on Facebook at the time); and Ahmed Ihab Bakr al-Jabri, killed on December 5th, 2023 (forthcoming incident ISPT1508a, with Amer Aljabri announcing his death on Facebook at the time).

Rami Abdo, director of the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory, noted that as well as named militants having been killed in previous strikes, that also amongst the list were “three elderly civilians who had no connection to the military action.” These were “Muhammad al-Tayef, a former academic and school principal; the deputy mayor of Beit Hanoun, Abdul Aziz Misbah al-Kafarna; the academic with the rank of professor, Yousef Kahlout, a professor of Arabic at the Islamic University in Gaza.” Indeed, Tahaqaq reported that six of those killed and listed by the IDF were “opponents of the Hamas movement.”

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Airwars is matching individuals to the first list where their name appeared. In regard to this incident, names are matched to the seventh, eighth, and ninth ‘Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza’ lists.

*Airwars has recorded these individuals as likely children based on ages of family members and descriptions until further information comes to light.