Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT063

Incident date

May 14–15, 2021

Location

شارع المشروع ,بيت لاهيا, Al Mashrou Street, Beit Lahiya, North Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.560808, 34.492592 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Palestinian mother in her mid-forties was reportedly killed while her husband (49) and son were injured in an alleged airstrike by the Israeli Armed Forces in the Al-Amal neighborhood in Beit Lahiya, West of Khan Younes in Southern Gaza on May 14th/May 15th, 2021. The attack reportedly hit agricultural land next to the family’s two story house in Al-Mashrou Street.

Most sources reported the death of one civilian female, and the injury of her husband and son. Several reports identified the female casualty as Faiza Ahmed Mohammed Salama, and her husband as Ibrahim Musa Salama.

B’Tselem provided testimony from Ibrahim Salamah, 49, Faiza’s husband: On Friday, after midnight, there was massive shelling all over the northern Gaza Strip. I was with my wife and our son Musa in our apartment on the ground floor. ‘Udai and ‘Uhud were with Uhud’s family. Suraya, Musa’s wife, was also with her children at her parents’ house in a-Shati Refugee Camp. We heard very loud explosions nearby. We were in the living room, and the bombardment didn’t stop. Suddenly, I saw the window fly. I felt dizzy and fell down. I woke up several minutes later with lumps of concrete on me. I saw a concrete pillar still holding the roof up. Musa was next to me. My wife was, too, but she was buried under debris. I said to Musa, “Where’s your phone? Turn on the flashlight.” Then I told him to call for help. He called his uncle Ahmad and a friend of his. Meanwhile, I heard people shouting and screaming outside, and neighbors talking and calling Civil Defense forces and ambulances. At some point, neighbors came to rescue us. They lifted the rubble off me and pulled me out. I crawled out. Musa was taken out after me. An ambulance took us to the Indonesian Hospital. It was 1:30 A.M. At around 4:00 A.M., they extracted my wife Fayzeh’s body. I stayed at the hospital for a few hours. I was diagnosed with a fracture in the fifth vertebrae and bruises. Musa sustained bruises and partial hearing loss. We’re still recovering. At first, I went to my in-laws’, because our house was completely ruined. After the war ended, I rented this apartment.”

Only one citizen was allegedly injured according @Salehghareeb8. “We Beyond the Fence” was the only source that instead reported that “at 2 a.m. (…) two women, 19 and 50, were buried alive and killed after the army shelled their home”, claiming other local sources reported on the incident.

According to Al Mezan News, Faiza Ahmed Mohammed Salama was 44 years old, while the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights claimed she was 45.

Several sources reported that the Israeli Military fired two missiles and hit next to a two-story house that belonged to the affected family. The airstrikes left many houses destroyed according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.

Relatives of the family mourned the loss on social media. Romel Salama posted on Facebook: “My Cousin’s wife, Ibrahim Salama (Abu Musa), died after the barbaric bombing of the northern Gaza Strip, where their house was bombed”, and Abo Jihad Salama stated: “With more pride and honor, we mourn the martyr of Jerusalem, the wife of my brother Ibrahim Salama (Abu Musa)”.

@Betelgeuse100 reported that the “casualties” arrived to the Al-Shifa hospital, claiming that the father was “running to escape” when his family was hit.

The consensus among sources was that Israel was responsible for the strikes. B’Tselem reported that “According to the military, Hamas’ tunnel network ran by the house.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Faiza Ahmed Mohammed Salama فايزة أحمد سلامة
44-45 years old female killed
Ibrahim Musa Salama إبراهيم موسى سلام
49 years old male injured
Musa, Son of Ibrahim and Faiza ابن إبراهيم و فايزة
26 years old male injured

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Mashrou (المشروع) street allegedly within Al Amal (الأمل) neighborhood of Beit Lahiya (بيت لاهيا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Amal are: 31.560808, 34.492592.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Amal (الأمل) neighborhood, within the town of Beit Lahiya (بيت لاهيا).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The injured civilian Ibrahim Musa Salama on a hospital bed after an alleged Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya, Gaza, on the May 14th, 2021 (via @Betelgeuse100)

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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (15) [ collapse]