Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISPT210624d

Incident date

June 21, 2024

Location

منازل عائلتي مشتهى وأبو العطا مدرسة دير اللاتين في منطقة غزة القديمة,, The houses of Mushtah and Abu Al Ata families, Shujaiya neighbourhood, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On the morning of Friday, May 12th 2024, at least eight civilians were killed, including women and children, and one child was wounded after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the two residential apartments belonging to the Mushtaha and Abu Al-Atta families behind the Latin Monastery School in the centre of Gaza City.

Amongst those killed was 34-year-old Ahmed Muhammed Hassan Abu al-Atta, a winger for the Palestinian Al-Ahly football club, along with his wife 26-year-old Dr. Ruba Abu al-Atta, and their children: their son, two-year-old Muhammad Ahmed Abu al-Atta and daughter, seven-year-old Kenzi Ahmed Abu al-Atta. Another son of Ahmed and Ruba, Sinan Ahmed Abu al-Atta was reportedly injured and family and friends shared prayers for his recovery. He appears to have been the only survivor from his immediate family. The mother of Ahmed Abu al-Atta, 53-year-old Khitam (Umm Adi) Abu al-Atta, along with her cousin Umm Waseem Abu al-Atta and her son, 29-year-old Waseem Naji Abu al-Atta.

Mourners took to social media with prayers and condolences. Facebook user Ismail Abu al-Ata Abu Ubaida posted a video compilation of Ahmed Abu Al-Atta, commiserating his death along with that of his wife and children. She lamented that “they departed from the world of annihilation to the abode of survival next to a kind and generous God”.

Tariq Musleh shared an image of Kenzi Abu Al-Atta from before the incident on Facebook, showing Kenzi smiling while holding sweets. Another image shared by Islam Abu al-Tati Abu Ayman on Facebook, showed a graduation celebration, two of the Abu al-Atta children are standing in front of their parents, holding up a sign that reads “Mama Ruba is the best Pharmaceutical doctor.”

Safa News reported that civil defence crews had initially recovered five civilians killed during the strike in the Shujaiya neighborhood, behind the Latin Monastery School in the Old Gaza area. Graphic video content posted by @Mostafa Smaili to Facebook showed the bloodied bodies of children being loaded into a van following the incident. The video also showed the consequent property damage, including personal belongings mixed throughout the detritus.

Al Jazeera News reported that Ahmed Abu al-Atta joins a growing number of players and athletes who have been killed during the conflict in Gaza. Arwa Ashraf mourned the death of aunt Khitam, “who is dear to our hearts” but mentioned that two of the family members “are still alive.” However, the exact details and condition of those injured is unknown.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

Where possible, names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list released July 24, 2024.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Ahmed Muhammed Hassan Abu al-Atta احمد محمد حسن ابو العطا
34 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802500777
Dr Ruba Ismail Moin Abu al-Atta ربا اسماعيل معين ابو العطا
26 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 403127814
Kenzi Ahmed Muhammed Abu al-Atta كنزي احمد ابو العطا
7 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 437195332
Muhammad Ahmed Muhammed Abu al-Atta محمد احمد ابو العطا
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445773351
Sinan Ahmed Muhammed Abu al-Atta سنان احمد ابو العطا
male injured
Khitam (Umm Adi) Abu al-Atta ختام (ام عدي) أبو العطا
53 years old killed Matched to MoH ID 910718501
Umm Waseem Abu al-Atta أم وسيم أبو العطا
Adult female killed
Waseem Naji Hassan Abu al-Atta وسيم ناجي حسن ابو العطا
29 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 400142063

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children3 women2 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohmed Adwan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Anadolu Agency
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saeb Jundia
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saeb Jundia
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saeb Jundia
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tariq Musleh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Islam Abu Al-Tati Abu Ayman
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: aljazeera.net news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (2 children3 women2 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.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]