Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT201024l

Incident date

October 20, 2024

Location

مدرسة الفوقا، مخيم جباليا, Hafsa Al Fawqa School, Jabalia camp, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.536168, 34.494012 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Shortly before 3:41 PM on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at least two people were killed and four people injured as a result of an alleged Israeli artillery strike on the Hafsa School, affiliated with UNRWA. The school was serving as a shelter for displaced people and is located near Abu Rashid Pool in Jabalia Refugee Camp, north of the Gaza Strip.

Journalist Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) was the first to report the strike at 3:41 PM, mentioning casualties and injuries resulting from it. Twitter/X user @A7mmmaaadd wrote about the incident at 3:46 PM.

Twitter/X user @zhrtala40042157 shared six photographs accompanied by a tweet mentioning the Hafsa School shelling. The images show four wounded individuals, including a man with a leg injury, a teenager with bloodied trousers being carried to receive medical attention, and an elderly man being escorted, and a young man being lowered onto a stretcher. Though the picture of the young man is taken from behind and his face is obscured, he appears to be a teenager. The post also includes a picture of a deceased man with bandages on his head whose identity is not known. Taken during daylight, the photos appeared to capture moments shortly after the strike, as the injured are visibly in shaken from the traumatic events.

Beyond what was represented in photos, no further details about those who were injured or killed have been provided. However, several sources, including Safa News, reported on the incident, with one update stating: “Martyrs and wounded in artillery shelling targeting Hafsa School, which houses displaced people, and Al-Fakhoura Clinic in Jabalia Camp, north of the Gaza Strip.”

Additionally, a Facebook user, Um Al Moatsem, reported on the strike by sharing a screenshot of a WhatsApp group chat with journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who provided updates on the strikes in Jabalia Camp on October 20, including the attack on Hafsa School, which also mentioned injuries.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all attributed the attack to the Israeli military.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Huyam ِAbd Al Karim Al Mujabir (Shahada) هيام عبد الكريم شحادة
Adult female killed
Atta Fadi Atta Shahada عطا فادي عطا شحادة
Child male killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Hafsa Al Fawqa School (مدرسة الفوقا) in the Jabalia Camp (مخيم جباليا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.536168, 34.494012. 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
  • Infrastructure
    Education, IDP or Refugee Camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @zhrtala40042157
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Um Al Moatsem
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sief Al Bahri
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sief Al Bahri

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Infrastructure
    Education, IDP or Refugee Camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]