Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT130

Incident date

May 20, 2021

Location

حي معان ,خان يونس, Ma’an neighborhood, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.330061, 34.316744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians, including two children, were injured when an unexploded missile landed in a home east of Ma’an on May 20, 2021.

According to Al Mezan, Israeli missiles struck the home of brothers Muhammad and Munis Muhareb, in the customs police area east of Ma’an. However, the missile did not explode and also penetrated the nearby house of Ramzi Abu Hadid and injured three civilians, including two children.

Pal times put the number of injuries from the unexploded missile in Ma’an at four wounded and @yahyanawazv identified the injuries as shrapnel wounds.

A tweet from @Abuabraa2110198 added that a large number of women and children (20 people according to @yahyanawazv) that were in the Muhareb family home escaped a certain death that would’ve occurred if the missile had exploded.

@waed_2002 reported that explosives engineering teams arrived after the strikes to safely remove the unexploded missile, which weighed one ton according to @AzimShahsaab.

All of the sources attributed the unexploded missile to Israel.

The incident occured at approximately 12:10 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • An unexploded Israeli missile landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @RealEmanAyad)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @gGY33TX9eprjsHt)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @gGY33TX9eprjsHt)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @gGY33TX9eprjsHt)
  • Many people escaped certain death when an unexploded Israeli missile landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @Abuabraa2110198)
  • Damage caused by an unexploded Israeli missile which landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @yahyanawazv)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @1MahmoudAbdel)
  • Crews work to remove the unexploded Israeli missile that landed in the home of Muhammad and Munis Muhareb east of Ma’an area on May 20, 2021. (Image posted by @1MahmoudAbdel)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Ma’an (معن) neighborhood of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.330061, 34.316744. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Ma’an (معن) neighborhood of Khan Younis (خان يونس).

    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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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

Sources (16) [ collapse]