Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT069

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

قيزان أبو رشوان, Qizan Abu Rashwan, Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.329006, 34.283700 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and seven civilians were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the Qizan Rashwan area on May 15th, 2021.

Multiple sources report a strike on a naval facility in the vicinity of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday 15 May 2021, amongst a series of strikes on the area.

Multiple sources suggest that the facility was in the Qizan Rashwan area between Khan Yunis and Rafah, while one source described it as a ‘marine rest house’.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and others described the strike as a drone strike, carried out around 14:00 that day.

PCHR have also reported that one person was seriously injured as a result of the strike, “an Israeli drone fired a missile at al-Qararah Municipality in northern Khan Younis. As a result, a person sustained serious wounds and was taken to Naser Hospital.” Al Mezan was alone in reporting seven injuries, although it is unclear if this figure has been collated from all strikes in southern Gaza that day, of which there were multiple. Elbalad also reported injuries but did not provide a number.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attribute the strikes to Israel.

In an official press statement, the IDF on the 15th May stated: ” IDF fighter jets struck the house of Tisar Mevasher, commander of the Hamas ‘Karrara’ Battalion in Khan Yunis, and the house of Azi Tama’a, commander of the Hamas ‘Central Camps’ Brigade in Deir al-Balah. Both houses served as military infrastructure for the Hamas terror organization.” It is unclear at this time if this strike is referencing this event.

The incident occured at 14:00:00 local time.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Qizan Abu Rashwan (قيزان أبو رشوان) area, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.329006, 34.283700. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Qizan Abu Rashwan (قيزان أبو رشوان) area.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of a strike on Khan Younis on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @SyedWaqax5)

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

[18:52, 5/15/2021] IDF News Desk: IDF:

IDF strikes the houses of the commanders of the Hamas 'Central Camps' Brigade and the Hamas 'Karrara' Battalion, both of which served as Hamas military infrastructure

Earlier today, IDF fighter jets struck the house of Tisar Mevasher, commander of the Hamas 'Karrara' Battalion in Khan Yunis, and the house of Azi Tama'a, commander of the Hamas 'Central Camps' Brigade in Deir al-Balah. Both houses served as military infrastructure for the Hamas terror organization.

Damage to these infrastructures dealt a blow to the military capabilities of the Hamas terror organization.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]