Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT170124n

Incident date

January 17, 2024

Location

المستشفى الميداني الأردني الخاص/2 في خان يونس, Jordanian Private Field Hospital 2, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.343373, 34.292873 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two people, including a Jordanian medic, were injured after alleged Israeli shelling of the Jordanian Private Field Hospital 2 on January 17th, 2024.

The hospital employee, whose name is unknown, was wounded on the right side of his body, sustaining injuries to his thigh and arm; both injuries were described as “moderate.” The other civilian, of whom identifying factors are also unknown, has been described only as a “Gazan citizen” who according to Sky News Arabia, was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit and was “injured by shrapnel and a bullet.” The severity of these injuries is unknown.

The employee, under Jordanian royal directive, was evacuated to Jordan the evening of the strike. The Jordanian Royal Medical Services posted on Facebook that he was taken to Al Hussein Medical City, a medical complex in Amman, consisting of five hospitals. Doctors there described him as stable: pictures attached show him conscious and in seemingly good spirits. A bandage on his forearm is clearly visible. Recognition from the Jordanian royal family was noticeable: the Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II visited.

Gazans near the hospital described the scene following the strike. Mohammad Rami, a Palestinian civilian quoted by Middle East Eye, stated that he and others previously taking shelter in nearby tents were “forced to flee late at night, fearing the hospital would be raided or bombed.” Most of those displaced apparently “spent the night on the streets.” The bombing, Rami said, was “terrifying.”

Al Mamlaka TV described the hospital as “affected by missile fragments.” Roya News corroborated this, claiming the hospital “suffered extensive damage.” Israeli tanks allegedly came within meters of the hospital. A video shared by Ahmed el-Madhoun showed multiple bullet rounds in the vicinity of what was described as “dangerously close to the Jordanian field hospital.” Similarly, NPR quoted the Jordanian military as saying that Israel “deliberately targeted” the hospital by “blocking the entrance to the complex with a tank and shooting at the hospital.” The Jordanian embassy released a statement alleging that the attack “involved heavy firepower” which included “direct fire from tanks and vehicles.” Some of the firepower may have been directed at the nearby cemetery, which the hospital borders.

The Israeli fire reached international audiences, with the French government condemning it. Roya News quoted the French Ministry of Foreign affairs, which was said to have expressed “strong disapproval.” France “directly supports” the field hospital by providing financing and medical supplies, it said.

The Israel Defense Forces commented on the alleged strike but denied their involvement. The Times of Israel reported that the military “denied claims” that it shelled the hospital and said that “the hospital is not damaged and continues to function and provide medical care to those who need it.” IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit told The Times of Israel that the military “did not attack the Jordanian hospital in Khan Younis,” but that troops were engaged in a gun battle with Hamas operatives in a nearby area. However, the Jordanian armed forces released a statement that “this action was not a consequence of a clash with resistance factions,”and that it “strongly asserts that the deliberate targeting of the Jordanian Field Hospital was part of Israel’s consistent approach to targeting hospitals in Gaza.” According to the Jordanian military, Israeli forces knew the location of the hospital and knew that staff were sheltering in an adjacent concrete building. Video footage released by Jordan’s armed forces showed the building with bullet holes in the concrete walls, shattered windows and bloodstains on a bed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Jordanian Private Field Hospital 2 (المستشفى الميداني الأردني الخاص/2 في خان يونس), located south of Khan Younis (خان يونس), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.343373, 34.292873. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Xinhua News
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    Source: Xinhua News
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    Source: Xinhua News
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    Source: Xinhua News
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    Source: Xinhua News
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    Source: Hala akhbar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Jordanian royal medical services
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    Source: Jordanian royal medical services
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    Source: Madaba headband
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    Source: Tamara nawash al nahar
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    Source: Jordan tv
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    Source: Jordan tv
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    Source: Jordan tv
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    Source: Jordan tv
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Middle East Eye News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Middle East Eye News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Roya News News
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Times of Israel News
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    Source: NPR News
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    Source: @JorEmbUS
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    Source: @JorEmbUS
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    Source: @lrozen
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    Source: @gbrumfiel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @gbrumfiel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @gbrumfiel
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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
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (31) [ collapse]