Israel and Gaza 2023

Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

Belligerent
Israeli Military
Country
Syria
the Gaza Strip
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
592 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

ISPT0422a

Incident date

October 21, 2023

Location

السلام, Al Salam, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.267908, 34.256552 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the morning of Saturday, 21 October 2023, the al-Shaer family home in the Al-Salam neighborhood of Rafah was hit in an alleged Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of 10 identified members of the family and the injury of others.

A post from Ismail Abu Ahmed identified 10 members of the al-Shaer family who were killed: the father, 53-year-old Muhammad Fathi Nayef al-Shaer, the mother, 48-year-old Nabila Hammad Mahmoud al-Shaer, and their children: 24-year-old Bilal Fathi al-Shaer, 14-year-old Mahmoud Fathi al-Shaer, 15-year-old Lama Fathi al-Shaer, and 29-year-old Lobna Fathi al-Shaer. Lobna’s three children were also killed: 4-year-old Sidra Basel Ramadan al-Shaer, 12-year-old Khalil Basel Ramadan al-Shaer, and 10-year-old Ahmed Basel Ramadan al-Shaer. Another relative of the family, 53-year-old Ebtesam Mohammed Ahmed al-Shaer who was reported to be from Egypt, was also killed in the incident. According to @Mustafa3Ahed, the home that was destroyed belonged to the journalist Firas al-Shaer. Alghad TV News specified that the residence was a “three-storey house” and corresponding images show high levels of destruction.

Family members, such as Hussein Abu Jamal al-Shaer, expressed profound grief, stating, “The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and we only say what pleases our Lord, and we are saddened by their separation” as he mourned the loss of Uncle Muhammad Abu Firas Al-Shaer, his wife, and their children. The Directorate of Education, Rafah, posted on behalf of the Rafah Basic School B for Boys and bid farewell to the Al-Shaer family members, acknowledging the impact on their school community. They drew specific attention to Lobna Fathi al-Shaer, who served as the deputy of the Parents Council in Rafah. In the post, the Directorate shared “sincere condolences and sympathy to the al-Shaer family.”

A Safa correspondent reported that a number of people were wounded due to the bombing of the al-Shaer family home. No other sources provided additional information about the number of wounded.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

All names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on October 26th, 2023.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Muhammad Fathi Nayef al-Shaer محمد فتحي نايف الشاعر
53 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 410114474
Nabila Hammad Mahmoud al-Shaer نبيلة حماد محمود الشاعر
48 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 900882507
Bilal Fathi al-Shaer بلال فتحي الشاعر
24 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 404652307
Mahmoud Fathi al-Shaer محمود فتحي الشاعر
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429219835
Lama Fathi al-Shaer لما فتحي الشاعر
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424112696
Lobna Fathi al-Shaer لبنى فتحي الشاعر
29 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 400004099
Sidra Basel Ramadan al-Shaer سيدرا باسل رمضان الشاعر
4 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 440875938
Khalil Basel Ramadan al-Shaer خليل باسل رمضان الشاعر
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 432380095
Ahmed Basel Ramadan al-Shaer أحمد باسل رمضان الشاعر
10 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 434068011
Ebtesam Mohammed Ahmed al-Shaer ابتسام محمد احمد الشاعر
53 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 700452527

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (5 children3 women2 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussein Abu Jamal Al-Shaer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussein Abu Jamal Al-Shaer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussein Abu Jamal Al-Shaer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussein Abu Jamal Al-Shaer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hussein Abu Jamal Al-Shaer

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah Basic School B for Boys

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah Basic School B for Boys

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rafah Basic School B for Boys

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Abu Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Abu Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Abu Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ismail Abu Ahmed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The poet's family - the official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The poet's family - the official page

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Mustafa3Ahed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Mustafa3Ahed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Alghad.tv news

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of al Salam (السلام) to the east of Rafah (رفح). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to find boundaries for the neighbourhood and to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for al Salam are: 31.267908, 34.256552.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • (5 children3 women2 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0449

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة أبو معيلق في دير البلح وسط القطاع, Abu Mu’eileq home, Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Deir al-Balah, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

At 12pm on Sunday, October 22nd 2023, between 22 and 31 civilians, including at least 11 children and eight women, were killed and others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the homes of the Abu Muailiq family in Deir Al-Balah, which is located in the middle of the Gaza Strip.

Amnesty International reported that three homes belonging to the Abu Muailiq brothers and their families were hit by an alleged Israeli airstrike. The incident took place south of Wadi Gaza, where residents of northern Gaza had been ordered to relocate on October 13th, 2023.

Amnesty International has identified the US-made Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), as the bomb used during the strike based on images of fragments of the munition found at the scene of the incident. Amnesty International weapons experts have estimated that the JDAM used weighed “at least 1000 lbs” and was likely manufactured in 2018.

Dr Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq posted to Facebook detailing those killed during the incident. His wife, 44-year-old Islam Majed Kamel Abu Muailiq, also known as Umm Ghanam, was killed along with their four children: Duaa Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq (daughter, 16), Lama Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq (daughter, aged 11), Muhammad Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq (son, aged 13) and Ghanem Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq (son, aged 14)

The sister of Islam Abu Muailiq, Samar Majid Kamel Abu Muailiq, was also killed during the strike along with her five children: Rahaf Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq (daughter, aged 19), Raneem Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq (daughter, aged 17), Raghad Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq (daughter, aged 14), Sami Omar Youssef Abu Mailiq (son, aged 10) and Youssef Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq (son, aged 5).

Shorouk Majod Kamel Abu Muailiq, the sister of both Islam and Samar, was killed with her three children in the airstrike: Souad Hossam Ibrahim Salem (daughter, aged 9), Aya Hossam Ibrahim Salem (daughter, aged 7) and Ibrahim Hossam Ibrahim Salem (son, aged 6). 48-year-old Youlia Nicola Abu Muailiq, who was reported to be a Russian citizen, also died during the incident along with her daughter Dr. Lina Sami Abu Mualiq who was 23 years old.

The airstrike also killed numerous other members of the Abu Muailiq family including 22-year-old Kareem Yousef Salem Abu Muailiq and his 34-year-old brother Amar Yousef Salem Abu Muailiq, a 60-year-old woman called Raisa Abdullah Sulayman Abu Muailiq and Saheed Abdel Karim Mustafa Abu Muailiq, along with an unnamed woman referred to as the wife of Abu Ahed. The neighbour of the Abu Muailiq household – a 39-year-old man named Rajab Ghaz Mezyed – also died as a result of the strike.

Amnesty International reported that 19 people were killed in the incident, however, Airwars has identified 23 names of individuals reported as killed amongst sources. In line with Airwars methodology, the minimum number of civilians killed is 23, as 23 names were identified. The highest civilian casualty count was reported by Duaa Jarghon, in a post on Facebook, who wrote that Umm Ghanem and 30 other members of the Abu Mu’eileq family had been killed.

Amnesty International found no evidence that the homes of Abu Mu’eileq had any military purpose, or that Hamas was engaged in civilian ‘shielding’ at this location. The NGO described the strike as ‘unlawful’. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, publicly announced that the incident was a ‘wake-up’ call for the Biden Administration into the role that US-made munitions are having in facilitating civilian casualties in Gaza.

@Al-BusairsAbuAli posted a video to Facebook showing the aftermath of the airstrike. It shows civilians digging through the rubble of demolished buildings, and carrying the remains of those killed during the incident. It is claimed ‘dozens’ were killed during the strike. @ShebabAgency posted a video to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that showed the bodies of four young children that were killed during the strike. Their names had been written onto their bodies while they were alive so that they could be identified if they were killed.

In an interview with Amnesty International, Dr Bakir Youssef Abu Muailiq – an ear, nose and throat specialist – said that he was working at the hospital when the airstrike that killed his wife and four children took place. Dr Bakr said there was no justification for the strike, and reaffirmed that his family was non-political: “we are doctors and scientists”. His statement aligns with Amnesty International’s assessment that there was no military objective to carrying out a strike on the Abu Muailiq households.

Samaher Abu Muailiq, the brother-in-law of Islam, told Amnesty International that he left the building a minute before it was struck. He reportedly sustained injuries to the neck and the back when he was thrown against a door by the force of the blast. Survivors of the incident told Amnesty International that no warning was given.

Since the incident, heartfelt testimonials have been posted online. @Abu Fares Ghareeb, posting on behalf of the “14 Million Conference”, commiserated the death of Islam Abu Muailiq and her children on Facebook, praising Islam’s kindness and good character. Islam was a member of the conference’s follow-up committee and the conference’s coordinator in the Gaza Strip.

Wesam Waleed, a member of the Abu Muailiq family, described a “tiring and exhausting night” where he did not sleep due to his heartbreak.

Amnesty International sent questions regarding the two attacks to the Israeli military’s spokesperson unit on 21 November. At the time of the publication of the Amnesty International report on December 5, 2023, no response had been received.

The names of 12 victims have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of names, ages and IDs of victims published on October 26, 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured at 12:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (24)

Islam Majed Kamel Abu Muailiq اسلام ماجد كامل ابو معيلق
44 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 951437193
Duaa Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq دعاء بكر يوسف ابو معيلق
16 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424629749
Ghanem Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq غانم بكر يوسف ابو معيلق
14 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426486825
Muhammad Bakr Yusuf Abu Muailiq محمد بكر يوسف ابو معيلق
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 430541748
Lama Bakr Youssef Abu Muailiq لما بكر يوسف ابو معيلق
11 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 430421164
Samar Majid Kamel Abu Muailiq سمر ماجد كامل ابو معيلق
43 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 991205915
Rahaf Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq رهف عمر يوسف ابو معيلق
20 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 408950129
Raneem Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq رنيم عمر يوسف ابو معيلق
17 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 424350197
Raghad Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq, رغد عمر يوسف ابو معيلق
15 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 427482278
Sami Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq سامي عمر يوسف ابو معيلق
10 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 434013314
Youssef Omar Youssef Abu Muailiq يوسف عمر يوسف ابو معيلق
6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440524478
Shorouk Majid Kamel Abu Muailiq شروق ماجد كامل ابو معيلق
Adult female killed
Souad Hossam Ibrahim Salem سعاد حسام ابراهيم سالم
9 years old female killed
Aya Hossam Ibrahim Salem اية حسام ابراهيم سالم
7 years old female killed
Ibrahim Hossam Ibrahim Salem ابراهيم حسام ابراهيم سالم
6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 437210867
Youlia Vladimir Nicola Abu Muailiq يوليا فلاديمير نيكولا ابو معيلق
48 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 412257214
Lina Sami Abu Muailiq لينا ابو معيلق
23 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 405968447
Kareem Abu Muailiq كريم ابو معيلق
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406131284
Amar Abu Muailiq عمار ابو معيلق
34 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 802484758
Raisa Abu Muailiq رئيسة ابو معيلق
60 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 925052938
Saheed Abdel Karim Mustafa Abu Muailiq سهيد عبد الكريم مصطفى ابو معيلق
killed
Wife of Abu Ahed زوجة ابو عاهد
Adult male killed
Samaher Abu Muailiq
male injured
Rajab Ghaz Mezyed رجب غازي رجب ابو مزيد
39 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 411954894

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 31
  • (11–12 children8 women3 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (30) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Bilal Abu Safwan

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Amin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Amin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mohammad Amin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Fares Ghareeb

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nedal Jamal

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abu Saqr Abu Maleeq

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Muhammad Taha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nader Adel Abu Shaaban

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kholoud Abu Muallaq

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ihsan Amin

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @elhashmy5

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Weesam Waleed

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amnesty International Report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    22 – 31
  • (11–12 children8 women3 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0462

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

منزلاً لعائلة الزطمة بجوار مسجد زيد بين مخيم بدر والبراهمة غرب رفح, al-Zatmeh family house next to Zaid Mosque between Badr and Al-Brahma camp, west of Rafah, Gaza, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

Fifteen members of the al-Zatmeh and Ghoneim families, including 11 children and two women, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the al-Zatmeh family home to the West of Rafah on October 22nd 2023. The house was situated next to Zaid mosque, between Badr and Al-Brahma camp. Initial reports by @ShehabAgency claimed “a large number of injuries,” though did not specify the number of injured victims. According to Alaa Abu Anas, “there [were] body parts and missing persons being identified” following the airstrike. Several sources claimed the explosion type to be originating from an Israeli aircraft.

From the al-Zatmeh family, 35-year-old Imad Faraj al-Zatmeh and his wife 34-year-old Islam Nayef al-Zatmeh were killed, along with their children 10-year-old Hala Imad al-Zatmeh, 13-year-old Muhammad Imad al-Zatmeh, 2-year-old Ahmed Imad al-Zatmeh, and 11-year-old Ibrahim Imad al-Zatmeh. Imad’s sister, 28-year-old Hanan Faraj al-Zatmeh was also killed, along with her husband 32-year-old Ahmed Essam Salah and their children 9-year-old Essam Ahmed Salah, 3-year-old Retal Ahmed Salah, less than a year old Abdul Rahman Ahmed Salah and 2-year-old Nada Ahmed Salah.

Images shared on social media showed the mother of Imad and Hanan Faraj al-Zatmeh, Ibtisam al-Zatmeh, crouched over the bodies of her children, covered in white shroud on the ground, after she had heard about the strike on her home while working at the Emirati maternity hospital.

In a Facebook post, Muhammad Abdel Aziz mourned his cousins, 12-year-old Raghad Farid Ghoneim, 8-year-old Layan Farid Ghoneim, and 5-year-old Karam Farid Ghoneim, reporting they were “killed in a bombing on a house next to them.” Images shared by a page for the Ghoneim family show the children smiling while posing for photos.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

All of the names have been reconciled with published Palestinian Ministry of Health lists with thanks to journalist Alexandre Horn from CheckNews for identifying relevant sources, and Data Tech for Palestine for centralising the datasets.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Imad Faraj al-Zatma عماد فرج الزطمة
35 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 800773186
Islam Nayef al-Zatma اسلام نايف الزطمة
34 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 802319558
Hala Imad al-Zatma هلا عماد الزطمة
10 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 434052718
Muhammad Imad al-Zatma محمد عماد الزطمة
13 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 429908064
Ahmed Imad al-Zatma احمد عماد الزطمة
2 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 443168000
Ibrahim Imad Al-Zatma ابراهيم عماد الزطمة
12 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 432398717
Hanan Faraj al-Zatmeh (Saleh) حنان فرج الزطمة
29 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 400273694
Ahmed Essam Salah احمد عصام صلاح
32 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 803447994
Essam Ahmed Salah اسماء احمد صلاح
9 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 435237714
Retal Ahmed Salah ريتال احمد صلاح
3 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 445067770
Nada Ahmed Salah ندى احمد صلاح
2 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 436153571
Abdul Rahman Ahmed Salah عبد الرحمن صلاح
0.6 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 444480057

Family members (3)

Raghad Farid Ghoneim رغد فريد غنيم
12 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 431668052
Layan Farid Ghoneim ليان فريد غنيم
8 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 435146337
Karam Farid Ghoneim كرم فريد غنيم
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 440682649

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (11 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Hamid Al-Habashi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Hamid Al-Habashi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Hamid Al-Habashi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Abdul Hamid Al-Habashi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ghoneim's family is "barren" at home and in the diaspora

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ghoneim's family is "barren" at home and in the diaspora

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution, Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • (11 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0488

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة أبو طاقة في منطقة الشهداء غرب مخيم جبالي, Al-Shuhada area, west of the Jabalia camp, Gaza Strip, Central Gaza Strip, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

Shortly before 8:00 PM on Monday, October 23rd, 2023, an Israeli aircraft allegedly bombed the Abu Taqiyya family home located in the Al-Shuhada area, west of the Jabalia camp, killing at least one civilian, paramedic Jihad Abu Taqiyya, and injuring four of his children: Esraa, Mariam, Muhammed, and Abood.

Shehab Agency was the first to report on the incident, sharing images of the rescue effort amidst the rubble around the severely damaged building. Safa News quoted the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza saying that a number of killed and wounded were recovered.

Several news sources, including Al Jazeera, reported that several injured civilians were recovered from under the rubble and shared images of the house that appeared  destroyed. According to Quds News, there were still wounded under the rubble the morning following the alleged attack. Facebook user Mohammed Ahmad posted several videos where many neighbors can be seen taking part in the rescue efforts on site.

@ShehabAgency and Watan reported the death of Jihad Abu Taqiyya on October 31st as a result of the injuries sustained in the bombing.

Umm Al-Abd Asma, Jihad’s wife, mourned her husband’s death in a deeply felt Facebook post, where she also described her experience on the night of the alleged strike: “We were sitting safely with our children in our homes. We found the house falling on us and was destroyed and turned into ashes. The house that I lived in for only two years after 16 years of torment, poverty, hunger, and deprivation.”

She also shared details about the severe injuries of her children: “My daughter, Israa, had her leg amputated, my son Muhammad, his legs are platinum. Maryam still has not recovered from the operations. She came back and injured her legs, and every day she sleeps and wakes up screaming in pain😭.”

A few days later she shared a video of her very young injured child on another post, where she wrote: “My son was in intensive care in Al-Shifa [hospital] for 13 days, and they took him out when they stormed Al-Shifa, and then they transferred him to Al-Rantisi [hospital], and Al-Rantisi was destroyed, while I and my son were there. He and I miraculously got out, and then I strayed from there to the Indonesian [hospital], and they also stormed the Indonesian, and we got out miraculously, and we were transferred to Khan Yunis, Nasser Hospital, and the situation was very difficult, all night long, with fire belts and terrible bombing.”

Airwars was not able to reconcile Jihad Abu Taqiyya’s name with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of names, released October 26th 2023.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

Due to the scale and urgency of Airwars’ assessment process, all images have been automatically uploaded to each assessment with the graphic filter applied to protect users. We have also included all images identified from the sources, which may also include any imagery of combatants.

The incident occured at approximately 7:56 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Jihad Abu Taqiya, جهاد ابو طاقية
Adult male killed
Esraa Abu Taqiya اسراء
Child female injured
Mariam Abu Taqiya ,مريم
Child female injured
Muhammed Abu Taqiya محمد
Child male injured
Abood Abu Taqiya , عبود
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (37) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @ShehabAgency

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef bin Mustafa Al-Buhaisi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef bin Mustafa Al-Buhaisi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef bin Mustafa Al-Buhaisi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Youssef bin Mustafa Al-Buhaisi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gaza days

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gaza days

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gaza days

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Gaza days

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Saleha

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al-Liddawi family gathering

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Lina Ziad Ashour

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shatha Atallah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shatha Atallah

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Umm Abdullah Othman

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Umm Abdullah Othman

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Islam Al-Lidawi

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY005

Incident date

November 19–20, 2019

Location

بيت سابر, Beit Sabir, Damascus, Syria

Geolocation

33.328061, 36.000645 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a woman, were killed and at least one child was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, around 1:30 AM on November 20th, 2019, according to local sources.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported “the death of a Syrian civilian and his wife after they were pulled from under the rubble of their house in Beit Sabir village in Sasa area, after the fall of a missile on their house due to Israeli shelling.”

The mayor of the village, Muhammad Al Safadi, told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that Ayoub Al Safadi and his wife Nadia Al Safadi were killed when a missile destroyed the two-storey building they resided in. Their 14-year-old son Ahmad Al Safadi was injured, but in good condition after receiving treatment in Abaza hospital. Beat Tema reported that the father of the family worked as a tailor.

Ahmad told SANA: “We were sleeping and heard strong voices, and within less than a minute the house above us was destroyed. I was transferred to the hospital in a state of loss of consciousness.”

Another son of the victims, Muhammad Al Safadi, is a soldier in the Syrian Arab Army and stated: “I was in my place of service when I received a call after two o’clock at night to know that my father was martyred and my younger brother was taken to the hospital.”

According to some sources, including @kholoudahassan, there were two sons pulled from underneath the rubble. According to Zaman Al Wasl, the incident occured at 1:30 AM.

Arab48 reported several wounded civilians, writing: “A medical source at the Qatana National Hospital confirmed that a man and a woman were killed, while a number of others were injured as a result of the raids on the town of Beit Saber, in Saasa, southwest of Damascus.” Other sources also reported several injured but did not specify the number.

According to SANA, Damascus countryside governor Alaa Ibrahim stated that “the rescue teams will remove the debris in Sasa area where a house was damaged, and three survivors were pulled from under the rubble, adding that the rest of the family’s members whose house was targeted by the Israeli brutal aggression are being rescued.” The governor also added that the governorate will provide assistance to those who were affected by the alleged Israeli strikes, and will rebuild the damaged homes.

Zaman Al Wasl wrote that “the recent Israeli raids came hours after Tel Aviv announced that it had been struck by a barrage of missiles fired from Syrian territory, claiming that it had intercepted all these missiles, which failed to reach their targets.”

Times of Israel reported that at least 23 fighters were killed in the Israeli strikes, 16 of them likely Iranians. France 24, quoting Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the number of fighters killed at 11, including seven foreign fighters. Neither source identified which location that fighters were killed in.

One of the casualties is believed to be the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. A soldier in the Syrian regime army, Jaafar nour al-Deen, was also killed in the Israeli strikes but for both cases, it is unclear in which location they were killed.

Times of Israeli also pointed out that “video footage from Syria appeared to show a Syrian air defense missile crashing to the ground in a heavily populated area shortly after launching, which may account for some of the casualties” but provided no other specific information.

The IDF released a statement acknowledging the strikes they carried out on Syria, writing “#BREAKING: We just carried out wide-scale strikes of Iranian Quds Force & Syrian Armed Forces targets in Syria in response to the rockets fired at Israel by an Iranian force in Syria last night.” In their Hebrew language report, the IDF specifically refers to being carried out “in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ayoub Al Safadi أيوب الصفدي
Adult male killed
Nadia Al Safadi ناديا الصفدي
Adult female killed
Ahmad Al Safadi أحمد الصفدي
14 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “The effects of the destruction caused by the Israeli aggression in the town of Beit Saber in the Sa'sa region” (via SANA).
  • Ayoub al Safadi was killed alongside his wife in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Zaman Al Wasl).
  • Translation: “Pictures of shrapnel from one of the missiles of the Israeli aggression that hit a house in Sa`sa, which resulted in the destruction of the house. The family consisting of a father, mother and two sons were pulled out from under the rubble. The martyr Ayoub Ahmed and his wife and son from the village of Beit Saber in the countryside” (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Aftermath of alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir on November 20th, 2019 (via @kholoudahassan).
  • Civilians at the site after alleged Israeli airstrikes on a civilian home in Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Damaged civilian home after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • House in rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Civilian home in rubble after alleged Israeli airstrikes on Beit Sabir, Damascus governorate, on November 20th, 2019 (via Beat Tema).
  • Ahman Al Sadafi, who was injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on his home in Best Sabir, killing his parents (via Sham Sewar).
  • Image of Abu Muhammad Ayoub Al-Safadi, killed along with his wife, in Israeli strikes on the Damascus countryside on November 19-20, 2019. (Image posted by Radwan Al Safadi , relative of Muhammad)
  • Funeral for Abu Muhammad Ayoub Al-Safadi and his wife, killed along with his wife, in Israeli strikes on the Damascus countryside on November 19-20, 2019. (Image posted by Radwan Al Safadi , relative of Muhammad)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Funeral for the Basij fighter of the Revolutionary Guards, Ismail Ghulami-Yarahmadi, who was killed on November 20 in Syria, according to a tweet from Raz Zimmt, a professor at Tel Aviv University. (Image posted by Raz Zimmt via Twitter)
  • Jaafar nour al-Deen, one of the #SAA soldiers killed in the Israeli strikes yesterday. He was not part of the Iranian revolutionary guard but a regular Syrian army soldier. (Image posted by @Dannymakkisyria)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incidnet mention a residential building being struck in the village of Beit Saber (بيت سابر). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 33.328061, 36.000645.

  • Reports of the incidnet mention a residential building being struck in the village of Beit Saber (بيت سابر).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Close up of the exact location.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    SANA

  • Distribution of tags according to material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

Tonight (Tuesday), IDF fighter jets attacked dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army. The targets included surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons depots and military bases in Syrian territory.

The attack was carried out in response to the rocket launch by an Iranian force from Syrian territory into Israeli territory, with the intention of hitting Israeli territory. During it, Syrian surface-to-air missiles were fired despite a clear warning issued to avoid this fire.

"The framework for the IDF's activities is clear and the initiative, it is important to note, is in our hands," described the IDF spokesman, Hedi Zilberman. "24 hours ago, four rockets were fired and intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. We conducted an expedited combat procedure, along with a series of air force attacks we carried out tonight. The attack was extensive compared to the time it took place, it was carried out in the Damascus area in the south and west and a small part also on the front. "

The Iranian attack on Israeli territory yesterday is further and clear proof of the current Iranian purpose in Syria. This establishment poses a danger to Israel's security, regional stability and the Syrian regime. "As part of the operation, we acted against the host factor - the Syrian factor, and also against Quds Force for its variety of militias," the IDF spokesman added.

The IDF also considers the Syrian regime responsible for what is happening in its territory, and warns it against acting or allowing action against Israel. Such actions will provoke a sharp reaction.

The IDF will continue to act firmly and decisively against the Iranian establishment in Syria, and is highly prepared for a variety of scenarios and will continue to act as much as necessary for the security of the citizens of the State of Israel. "Yesterday we completed a large and extensive exercise that lasted two days with the participation of the Galilee Design and the Volcano Design."

The guidelines of the Home Front Command must be obeyed, which will be updated if necessary.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known targets
    Assad regime, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–23

Sources (47) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT008

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

عمارة الجندي المجهول, Al Jundi Al Majool Tower, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.51836, 34.447176 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three members of Islamic Jihad were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tower block in central Gaza. Numerous sources also reported up to eight injuries, with two reporting children among the injured.

The airstrike targeted the Al-Jundi Al-Majhool building, often referred to as the “Unknown Soldier” building in Gaza’s upmarket Rimal neighbourhood. There was limited information on the identities of those injured or the extent of the injuries in the reporting around the incident. Wafa News reported that most of the eight injured were children, while Al Watan alleged one child had been wounded. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights recorded seven injuries, all of which they said were moderate to light.

There was significantly more information on the three men who were killed in the airstrike. They were identifed as Sameh Fahim Al-Mamlouk, Kamal Tayseer Qureiqa and Muhammad Yahya Abu Al-Ata.

Some sources identified the men as civilians but information however emerged indicating they were militants. Their deaths were announced of the website of Islamic Jihad. A statement posted on the site read: “On the May 11th, 2021, and on the second day of the Battle of Saif al-Quds, [the name given by militants in Gaza for the May war] the commander Sameh al-Mamluk was on a date with the martyrdom, accompanied by his Mujahideen brothers Kamal Taysir Qureiqa and Muhammad Yahya Abu al-Atta, following a cowardly assassination carried out by the Zionist planes…”

According to the Times of Israel, a spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigade, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, vowed revenge for the deaths. “Our martyrs, commanders Sameh Fahim Al-Mamlouk, Kamal Tayseer Qureiqa and Muhammad Yahya Abu Al-Ata, bled, and we affirm that the response to their assassination will be harsh.”

Images also appeared on social media showing the three men in military fatigues wearing hats which appeared to have the Islamic Jihad emblem on the front.

The Israeli Defence Forces confirmed the airstrike in a tweet which included a video of the incident. The caption read, “This is the moment that the IDF & Israel Security Agency carried out a targeted strike against Islamic Jihad commander, Samah Abed al-Mamluk & other senior members of his unit. They were among those responsible for hundreds of rockets fired at Israelis.”

“An attack was carried out on a hiding place in which senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket apparatus were staying,” the Israeli military and the Shin Bet said, according to the Times of Israel.

The main target of the strike appeared to be Sameh Fahim Al-Mamlouk, identified by the Times of Israel as a senior commander of the armed wing. According to the Islamic Jihad website, he joined the Al Quds Brigade in 2004. The other two fighters were reportedly field commanders who oversaw rocket strikes on Israel.

According to World Israel News, Muhammad Yahya Abu Al-Ata was the deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade and one of the heads of the special rocket unit.

There was some confusion in the reporting as Jerusalem Post reported a Hassan Abu al-Ata as being killed in a different strike. He was referred to as deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade as well, with both sources noting the deceased was a brother of Baha Abu al-Atta, a senior Islamic Jihad commander who was killed alongside his wife in an Israeli airstrike in 2019.

An IDF press statement on the 11th May announced that the IDF had struck a multi-story building used by Hamas, stating: “Inside the building were multiple military units used by Hamas, including headquarters used for military research and development, military intelligence offices and more. Prior to the strike, the IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building and provided sufficient time for them to evacuate the site.”

All three men killed in the airstrike were married, according to the Islamic Jihad website.

The incident occured at 11:25:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Sameh Fahim Al-Mamlouk سامح المملوك
34 years old male killed
Kamal Tayseer Qureiqa كامل قراقع
34 years old male killed
Muhammad Yahya Abu Al-Ata محمد يحيي ابو العطا،
30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–8
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (55) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an apartment being struck in the Al Jundi Al Majool Tower (عمارة الجندي المجهول في) in the Rimal (حي الرمال) neighbourhood of Gaza (غَزَّة). Analyzing visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.51836, 34.447176.

  • Reports of the incident mention an apartment being struck in the Al Jundi Al Majool Tower (عمارة الجندي المجهول في) in the Rimal (حي الرمال) neighbourhood of Gaza (غَزَّة).

    Imagery:
    Planet

  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    @48nnews

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

Twitter post: Raw Aerial Footage: This is the moment that the IDF & Israel Security Agency carried out a targeted strike against Islamic Jihad commander, Samah Abed al-Mamluk & other senior members of his unit. They were among those responsible for hundreds of rockets fired at Israelis.

Press release:
The IDF struck a multi-story building used by the Hamas terror organization. The building housed the Hamas organization's military intelligence offices and other units

A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a multi-story building in the Rimal neighborhood, in the city of Gaza, used by the Hamas terror organization.
Inside the building were multiple military units used by Hamas, including headquarters used for military research and development, military intelligence offices and more. Prior to the strike, the IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building and provided sufficient time for them to evacuate the site.

The Hamas terror organization is responsible for the events occurring in, and from, the Gaza Strip, and will bear the consequences of its actions against Israel and her citizens.

The IDF is prepared for a wide variety of scenarios while continuing to fulfill its mission to defend the citizens of Israel.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • Israeli Defence Forces shared a video of the strike

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–8
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Known target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT041

Incident date

May 13, 2021

Location

حي الجنية, Al Jenina, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.272965, 34.267038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four people, including two women and between one to two children, were killed and 15 others, including seven children and three women, were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on the Al Jenina neighborhood in Rafah on May 13th, 2021. Only one of the victims, a man that was killed, was identified to be a belligerent.

According to Al Mezan, at approximately 8:20pm, “Israel’s air force fired a missile, without warning, at a three-story house in Al Jenina neighborhood that belongs to four families. In addition to two-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Rantisi, the airstrike killed his grandmother, Siham Yusuf Azara (Al-Rantisi), 66, his uncle, Raed Ibrahim Azara (Al-Rantisi), 29, and Raed’s 21-year-old wife, Shaima Diab Musa. Fifteen others, including seven children and three women, were injured.

B’Tselem collected testimony from ‘Iz a-Din a-Rantisi, 24, who lost four family members in the incident: “On Thursday, 13 May 2021, at around 8:00 P.M., I was in my apartment with my brother Muhammad. Suddenly, I heard a missile whistling. I felt a tremor and was thrown in the air. Muhammad, who was standing next to me, flew and fell on some debris. More rubble fell on him. I stayed put for a few minutes until the debris, glass and stones stopped falling. When I got to my feet, I saw our building was still standing, but the missile had gone through the ceiling and landed on the ground floor. I went down the stairs, which were covered in debris but were still standing. When I got to the ground floor, I saw my brother Yusef at the entrance to his apartment, covered in dust and smoke. I started shouting and calling for people to come save my family and get the wounded out from under the rubble. Some more people came. We looked behind the house to see if there was anyone wounded there. We searched with flashlights, because there was no electricity. I found Shaimaa, my brother Raed’s wife. She was dead. We pulled her out from under the rubble. We kept looking and found Aya, my brother Muhammad’s wife. The shock wave had blown her into the house of our neighbors, the al-Hamaydah family. She was wounded and was holding her six-month-old baby, Ibrahim Muhammad a-Rantisi. He was dead. We found my mother inside the apartment. She was dead, too. After looking for my brother Raed for two hours, we found him in the neighbors’ house. He was dead, too. He’d been blown about seven meters away from his apartment. We barely managed to save my brother Hamzah, who was under the rubble. We worked for more than two hours to remove the debris that had fallen on my sister-in-law Asmaa, 27, my brother Yusef’s wife. She was trapped under bits of rubble, lumps of concrete and concrete posts. She was moderately injured. The rest of the family, the children and women, had made it out of the building and weren’t hurt.”

Alaraby reported that on the day of the strikes, the wives of the brothers from the Rantisi family gathered at eight o’clock in the evening to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr, they brought food and sweets as part of the celebration. Shortly after they gathered, an Israeli missile struck their two floor home. “The Israeli missile violated the sanctity of our house, and turned our house into rubble, with which bodies, toys, clothes, and bedding were flying,” says Raeda Al-Rantissi, the 45-year-old daughter of Siham, who was killed. She added that “It was a very difficult moment, when everything turned to ashes, the smell of death and gunpowder, toys were scattered, and screams rose due to the tragedy. I could not have imagined that this would happen, although it could not be ruled out that the occupation would target any house in Gaza, the size of the overcrowding in our neighborhood gave us a false sense of safety. How can a place like this be bombed?”

A post from Abdul Baset showed an image of a toy that Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Rantisi was said to be playing with when he was killed. Ibrahim was between six months old and two years old at the time he was killed.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights identified the home as being owned by Yousif Ibrahim al-Rantisi (‘Azarah) and his brothers, he added that all of those injured were taken to Abu Yousif al-Najjar Hospital to receive treatment.

A tweet from @ahm_ks90 said three children were pulled from the rubble following the strikes, but did not identify whether they were dead or injured. Paltoday News reported that two children were killed and included very graphic images of the alleged children.

A post from Al Qassam Brigades identified Raed Ibrahim Al-Rantissi as a member of the “Mujahid Qassami”.

All of the sources attributed the strikes to Israeli missiles and @paltimes2015 reported that the strikes had occurred “without warning”.

The incident occured at approximately 8:20 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Rantisi ابراهيم محمد الر
2 years old male killed
Siham Yusuf Azara (Al-Rantisi) سهام يوسف محمد عزارة (الرنتيسي)
66 years old female killed
Shaima Diab Mohammad Musa شيماء دياب محمد موسى
21 years old female killed
Aya
Adult female injured
Hamzah
male injured
Asmaa
27 years old female moderately injured injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (54) [ collapse]

  • Raed Ibrahim Al-Rantissi, an alleged member of Al Qassam Brigades, was killed along with other members of his family on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Al Qassam Brigades)
  • Children injured in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @ahm_ks90)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)
  • Image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)
  • Image of a child being treated for injuries from strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Paltoday News)
  • Siham Yusuf Azara (Al-Rantisi), 66, killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Alaraby News)
  • Graphic image of a child allegedly killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Alaraby News)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Alaraby News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @TRTArabi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @TRTArabi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @TRTArabi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr )

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Raed Ibrahim Al-Rantissi, alleged to be a member of Al Qassam Brigades, was killed along with other members of his family on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by @hananalrefi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Fadi Obaid via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Rafah on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Mohamamd Al Rantisi)
  • Damage caused by strikes on Rafah on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Mohamamd Al Rantisi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Ibrahim Al-Rantisi, one of the victims of the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip*

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A toy that Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Rantisi was said to be playing with when he was killed in strikes on Rafah on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Abdul Baset via Facebook)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantisi family killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Funeral for members of the Al-Rantissi family who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Bodies of those killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Anadolu Agency)
  • Children injured in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Shihab)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of the child identified as Ibrahim Al-Rantissi who was killed in strikes on Al Jeniya neighborhood on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty)
  • Members of the Al-Rantisi family mourn the death of their relatives after they were killed on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty Images)
  • Palestinians carry the bodies of Raed and Ibrahim Al-Rantisi who were killed along with other members of their family on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty Images)
  • Raed Ibrahim Al-Rantissi, an alleged member of Al Qassam Brigades, was killed along with other members of his family on May 13, 2021. (Image posted by Getty Images)
  • 14 May, 2021. Funeral of Ibrahim Al-Rantisi. Credit: Yousef Masoud/TheNEWS2/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Geneina (حي جنينة) neighbourhood of Rafah (رفح‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Geneina are: 31.272965, 34.267038.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Geneina (حي جنينة) neighbourhood of Rafah (رفح‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    3 – 4
  • (1–2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT073

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

بيت لاهيا, Beit Lahia, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.551277, 34.509233 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed and up to 26 civilians reported injured by a single strike in a series of IDF airstrikes in the mid-afternoon on May 15, 2021. The strikes are reported to have struck the Beit Lahia area in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Several sources reported strikes leading to fires near to the American School, north of Beit Lahia, although Al Mezan was alone in reporting that one person was killed and 26 injured in the strikes, including five women and ten children.

Bel Trew, the Independent’s correspondent in the area, reported that the strikes had hit a large chemicals and pesticides store in the Beit Lahia area, starting a major fire.

The incident occured at approximately 3:50 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising following strikes on northwest Beit Lahia on May 15, 2021. (Image posted by @gazaapost)
  • According to @Beltrew, the strikes caused a massive fire at a huge chemicals and pesticides store.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Beit Lahiya (بيت لاهيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.551277, 34.509233. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]