Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT077

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

مخيم الشاطئ, Al Shati Refugee Camp, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.533701, 34.448318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two people were reported injured and a large number of fishing vessels were destroyed in an alleged naval bombardment by the Israeli navy on the Al Shati ‘Beach’ refugee camp to the West of Gaza City.

Al Jazeera first reported the bombardment around 9.30 a.m. local time on Saturday 15 May 2021, which targeted buildings in the refugee camp. Multiple sources confirm that a large number of fishing vessels were destroyed by fire as a result, alongside the two persons injured.

Several sources also reported building damage from naval bombardments on the shores of the Deir Al-Balah area in the Central Gaza Strip. All of the sources attributed the strikes to Israel.

On May 15th, the IDF released the following statement: “Last night, the IDF attacked a number of Hamas terror organization senior officials, in an apartment used as terror infrastructure in the area of the Al-Shati refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The details are under review.

The Hamas terror organization deliberately uses Gazan civilians as a way to shield and cover its hostile operations. The IDF takes all possible precautions to avoid harming civilians during its operational activities.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Shati refugee camp (مخيم الشاطئ), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.533701, 34.448318. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Known belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military

[12:06, 5/15/2021] IDF News Desk: IDF:

Last night, the IDF attacked a number of Hamas terror organization senior officials, in an apartment used as terror infrastructure in the area of the Al-Shati refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The details are under review.

The Hamas terror organization deliberately uses Gazan civilians as a way to shield and cover its hostile operations. The IDF takes all possible precautions to avoid harming civilians during its operational activities.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Known belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]