Shortly before 2:45 p.m. on 20 November 2024 three civilians, including two children, were reportedly killed when the Israeli military allegedly launched an attack on Awni al-Harthani School in Beit Lahia, which was sheltering displaced people at the time of the attack.

At 2:45 p.m., the Safa news agency reported that three civilians were killed and a number of them wounded as a result of alleged Israeli drones dropping bombs at Awni Al-Harthani School.

Fathi Saeed Saada, a boy, and 11-year-old girl Maryam Maher Dawwas were two of the alleged victims of the attack, named in a Facebook post from an account named Abo Tala. The exact ages of the children were not given in any sources but a photo shared on Facebook by Said El Haji showed two wrapped bodies; their youth is belied by the small size of the shrouds. A video shared by X/Twitter user Talal Ibrahim showed two men wrapping the body of a deceased boy, likely Fathi, whose head is heavily bandaged. Fathi appears as a young teenager.

Where possible, the names of the victims have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) lists, which include national ID numbers. Since October 26, 2023, the MoH has released eight lists, along with an additional list of medical professionals, which was released on September 17, 2024. Airwars matches individuals to the first list where their names appear. In regard to this incident, Maryam’s name was matched to the eighth “Palestinian Ministry of Health List of Fatalities in Gaza”, which was released on March 24, 2025.

Reports varied, as multiple sources reported via various social media sites that three people had been killed in the attack, while other sources reported that two people were killed. Only two names were given by any of the sources; the identity of the possible third victim of the alleged Israeli attack remains unknown at the time of writing.

Maryam’s cousin, Sarya Dawwas, mourned her passing on Facebook, saying that with her death, Maryam joined her father and brothers – demonstrating that they had previously died although it was unclear when or how. She attached a video comprising two images of Maryam; the photographs show her as a young girl with plaited hair, smiling at something she holds in her arms. Maryam had been “dear to her heart” and “precious”. Though Sarya demonstrated an adherence to faith – “Oh God, I do not object to your judgment” – the constant exposure to death was impossible to grasp – “we are tired and unable to bear it because of the loss of our loved ones and dear ones […] Our Lord, do not burden us with what we cannot bear [..] let this be the last post in which we mourn someone I love”.

Various sources reported that Awni al-Harthani School was acting as a shelter for displaced people at the time of the alleged Israeli attack. Sources were unclear on exactly how many people may have been sheltering in the school, but the majority reported that multiple people were injured as a result of the alleged bombardment. Sources repeatedly claimed that those killed and injured were mainly children.

While most sources alleged the strike came from artillery shelling, Safa PS claimed the casualties occurred because of “Israeli drones throwing bombs”.

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