Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT125

Incident date

May 20, 2021

Location

حي العطاطرة ، بيت لاهيا, Al Atatira neighborhood, Beit Lahiya, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.560034, 34.485183 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 20th, 2021, at 11:55 AM one man was reported killed and one woman was reported injured by an Israeli drone missile in the al-Atatira neighborhood of Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza. The man was identified as 34-year-old Hashem Shaher al-Shorfa, and the woman was identified as Reham Sayed al-Attar.

Multiple news and Twitter sources in English and Arabic confirmed the death of al-Shorfa and the injury of al-Attar.

A tweet from @uunionnews accused Hashem of being a member of the missile unit of the North Brigade for Al Qassam. However, we were not able to find his name listed amongst “martyrs” in official sources and he is even referred to as a farmer in a tweet from @Hassan_Che2020.

Al Haya reports “a citizen was martyred and another was seriously injured in a missile attack that targeted them in the Al-Atatra area northwest of the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, and they were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital in the town.”

The incident occured at 11:55:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Hashem Shaher Al Shorfa, who was killed in strikes on Beit Lahia on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Hashem Shaher Al Shorfa, who was killed in strikes on Beit Lahia on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Al Atatira ( العطاطرة), within the town of Beit Lahiya (بيت لاهيا‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.560034, 34.485183. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Al Atatira ( العطاطرة), within the town of Beit Lahiya (بيت لاهيا‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (34) [ collapse]