Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

M21ISPT086

Incident date

May 16, 2021

Location

مصبح, Musbah, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.303878, 34.277758 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men, likely to have been members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), were killed and a civilian was injured in an alleged Israeli drone strike on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, around 18:45 on the evening of May 16th 2021.

Multiple sources reported the death of Tariq Al-Qadi, aged 39 (some sources put his age at 36), and Sameh Al-Qadi, aged 23. Al Watan described the strike as being carried out by drones. Al Aqsa Voice and Al Watan also reported one further injury in the strike.

Saraya al-Quds, the paramilitary arm of PIJ, described both men as ‘shahid mujahids’ and posting photos of them in PIJ uniforms, indicating their likely status as combatants.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to an Israeli drone.

The incident occured at approximately 6:45 pm local time.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Musbah (مصبح) area, north of Rafah (رفح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. Possible generic coordinates for this area are: 31.303878, 34.277758.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • Sameh Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @abu_jamil_)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @abu_jamil_)
  • Separator of the Mujahid Martyr / Tariq Mahmoud Al-Qadi
  • The Mujahid Martyr Separator / Sameh Jihad Al-Qadi
  • Sameh Al-Qadi and Tariq Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Mohammad Suliman via Facebook)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Basel via Facebook)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Mohammad Abd via Facebook)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Sameh Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Tariq Al-Qadi, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • May God have mercy on them and put them in peace Martyr: Tariq Al-Qadi Martyr: Sameh Al-Qadi
  • Sameh Al-Qadi and Tariq Al-Qadi, killed in drone strikes on on agricultural land near to Mosbeh, north of Rafah, on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Neothedm via Reddit)
  • AMBULANCE BY THE HOUSE OF AL-QADI, BODY OF DEAD PERSON CARRIED ON STRETCHER PEOPLE HUGGING MEMBER OF AL-QADI FAMILY DURING FUNERAL
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic content / Relatives mourn by the body of Tareq al-Qadi, killed a day earlier in an Israeli air strike, during his funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Relatives mourn by the body of Tareq al-Qadi, killed a day earlier in an Israeli air strike, during his funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Relatives mourn during the funeral of Tareq al-Qadi, killed a day earlier in an Israeli air strike, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Relatives mourn by the body of Tareq al-Qadi, killed a day earlier in an Israeli air strike, during his funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Relatives mourn during the funeral of Tareq al-Qadi, killed a day earlier in an Israeli air strike, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 17, 2021. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Tariq Al-Qadi, 36, who was killed during Israeli airstrikes, during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 17, 2021. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (44) [ collapse]