Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT113

Incident date

May 19, 2021

Location

دير البلح, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Fida Fakhri Al-Qidra, aged between 32-35, was reportedly killed in either an Israeli missile or Palestinian rocket misfire on May 19th 2021 at approximately 4pm, when it hit her house located in the Mazraa area in the centre of Deir Al-Balah.

According to Al Haya News, her husband, Iyad Amin Al-Qudra, and her daughter were also injured in this attack and that they were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment.  The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights also reported that Mr. Al-Qudra’s brother was also injured in this attack, possibly raising the number of those injured to three.

According to The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, the Al-Qidra home was hit by a “missile or rocket” and her death, “according to the Palestinians, are not currently attributed to the IDF, and the Palestinians are still investigating the incident”. It also reported that “the incident was not attributed to the IDF in the reports of the human rights centers.” The human rights centre, Al Mezan described that only a “projectile” hit her house. Other local sources, however, attributed the incident to “Israeli bombing.”

1234infos.com News reported that Ms. Al-Qidra was a mother of five children, two boys and three girls, “and preferred to devote herself to taking care of her family, and lived a difficult economic life.”

The incident occured at approximately 4:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Fida Fakhri Al-Qidra فداء فخري القدرة
32-35 years old female killed
Iyad Al-Qidra اياد القدر
Adult male husband to Ms. Al-Qidra injured
Daughter of Mr. and Ms. Al-Qidra بنت اياد و فداء القدر
Child female injured
Brother to Mr. Al-Qidra خي فداء
male injured

Family members

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (23) [ collapse]

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.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (23) [ collapse]