(Previous Incident Code: ISPT077)

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.”