Israel and Gaza 2023

Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

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Incident Code

ISPT0378

Incident date

October 19, 2023

Location

منزل لعائلة عواجة بالقرب من مستوصف الزهراء في حي الجنينة شرق رفح, a house for the Awaja family near Al-Zahraa Clinic in the Al-Geneina neighborhood, east of Rafah, Gaza strip, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, 19 October 2023, at least eight civilians, including at least four children, were killed and four others were injured in an alleged Israeli strike on the Awaja family’s home near the al-Zahra Clinic in the al-Geneina neighbourhood, east of Rafah, Gaza strip.

Initial reportage from Safa news, Al Aqsa voice, and sources on social media stated there were seven civilians killed in the strike, with Safa and other sources on social and local media including Palestine Today later updating the death toll to eight. Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya shared videos of the dead and wounded being carried by civilians and rescue workers to ambulances and the Abu Youssef Al-Najjar hospital, with Al Arabiya also sharing images of the bombed home, its facade still standing amongst the rubble. Various sources online shared the names of the civilians killed in the strike – Hossam Jihad Sheikh Khalil (15), Hosni Jihad Sheikh Khalil (19), Jihad Muhammad Ghanem, Mahmoud Muhammad Abu Suleiman (16), Taghreed Khalil Awaja (46), Jihad Abdul Latif Awaja, Khaled Tamer Muhammad Awaja (15), and Atef Tamer Muhammad Awaja (15).

Hane posted a video of the bodies of the eight victims in shrouds laid on the ground, while others came to pay their respects. Twitter/X user @ehabomar21 stated that “initially, 4 injuries were reported” as a result of the bombing, while another source on social media shared an image of a young child, with the caption “The child, Joan Sheikh Khalil, is one of the survivors” of the bombing – it is unclear from the image whether she was injured or not. Another user shared the image of a young man, with a caption “May God have mercy on you” – it is unclear which of the victims this young man is. Other sources also mourned the loss on social media, with Asma Hasan sharing a tribute saying “The affliction is great and great… but God’s mercy is greater and more exalted/How difficult is separation.”

Where possible, Airwars has matched names with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of nearly 7000 victims’ names and ID numbers released on October 26th.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hossam Jihad Sheikh Khalil حسام جهاد الشيخ خليل
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426263190
Hosni Jihad Sheikh Khalil حسني جهاد الشيخ خليل
19 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 420446205

Family members (4)

Taghreed Khalil Awaja تغريد خليل عواجة
46 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 901661470
Jihad Abdul Latif Awaja جهاد عبد اللطيف عواجة
killed
Khaled Tamer Awaja خالد تامرعواجة
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 426094835
Atef Nasser Awaja عاطف ناصرعواجة
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 422077891

The victims were named as:

Jihad Muhammad Ghanem جهاد محمد غنام
Age unknown killed
Mahmoud Muhammad Abu Suleiman محمود محمد أبو سليمان
16 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 424361590

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @GeneralInGaza

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    Source: @GeneralInGaza

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    Source: @GeneralInGaza

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    Source: @GeneralInGaza

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    Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

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    Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

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    Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

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    Source: Alarabiya.Palestine

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    Source: Awdehchannel

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    Source: Mahmoud Abu Znada media platform

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    Source: Adlitaha1

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    Source: Business marketing

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    Source: Ꮆ. Ꮑ. ᎶᎯᏃᎬ.ᏁᎯᎬᎬᎷ

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    Source: Asma.hasan.503

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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
    8
  • (4 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0537

Incident date

October 24, 2023

Location

منزل عائلة ابو رتيمة بتل السلطان غرب رفح, Abu Ratima family home in Tal al-Sultan, west of Rafah, Rafah, the Gaza Strip

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday, October 24th 2023, it was reported that three civilians were killed and at least seven were injured, including four children, as a result of an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Abu Ratima family home in Tal al-Sultan, west of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Teleet Barhoum had posted on Facebook on the day of the alleged strike explaining that 52-year-old Fawzia Barhoum had died of her injuries.

Maslah Ziyade Abu Khatleh posted that his brother 90-year-old Hamad Ziyad Ismail Abu Khatla was also killed as a result of the alleged strike. A picture the elderly Hamad, dressed smartly in a traditional thawb, was included.

Abu Waleed Abu Ratima posted the day after the alleged strike describing how many of his family members were affected. He reported that Ahmed Abu Artemah, a journalist, had been injured in the alleged strike. Ahmed’s three children, Abdullah, Muhammad and Boutal had also been injured in the incident.

Abu Waleed Abu Ratima also wrote how his sisters Fatima and Banan Selmy were also injured, as well as his daughter Joud. He reported that Banan and Joud remained in intensive care along with Abdullah.

Another victim, a 66-year-old woman named Khairiyah Ahmed Mohammed Al-Akhras was killed in the incident.

Rafah City Official Account put the estimates of injuries at dozens, however, no other sources corroborated this claim.

Palestine News posted an image, taken by Doaa Khaled, of a young woman in distress, with a young girl crying and holding on to her, as they walk away from the site of the alleged airstrike.

Doaa Khaled herself added photos of the destruction caused by the alleged airstrike, with the images showing a large crater in the ground, a pool of blood and a building with the walls missing from two floors. Pictures also showed people helping two men walk away from the destruction, they were covered in dust but appeared uninjured.

One source, Husseyn Abu Tareq, reported in a post on Facebook that the family of Abu Khatla in Jordan, Rafah and the diaspora mourned the death of their relative Hamad Ziyad Ismail Abu Khatla and multiple sources, referring to him as “uncle”, posted prayers for him.

A relative of the victims, Abu Waleed Abu Ratimah, in a post on Facebook, mourned the death of Fawzia and asked people to pray for the recovery of Betoul, Abdullah and Joud, who remained in intensive care.

Reports explained how the house was situated behind the Al-Qadisiyah School and multiple sources reported that the house belonged to Khairy Abu Ratima.

The pictures showed that the reported strike occurred during the day.

The identities of Khairiyah Ahmed Mohammed Al-Akhras and Hamad Ziyad Ismail Abu Khatla have been reconciled with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities 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 local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Fawzia Barhoum فوزيه برهوم
Adult female Possible match with MoH ID 930682745 killed
Amhed Abu Artemah أحمد ابو ارتيمه
Adult male injured
Abdullah عبدالله
Child male injured
Muhammad محمد
Child male injured
Batoul بتول
Child female injured
Fatima فاطمة
Age unknown female injured
Banan Selmy بنان سلمي
Age unknown female injured
Joud جود
Child female injured

The victims were named as:

Hamad Ziyad Ismail Abu Khatla حمد زياد إسماعيل أبو ختله
90 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 975562018
Khairiyah Ahmed Mohammed Al-Akhras خيريه أحمد محمد الاخرس
66 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 907792238

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Maslah Ziyade Abu Khatleh

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Palestine News

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Doaa Khaled

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    Source: Doaa Khaled

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    Source: Doaa Khaled

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    Source: Doaa Khaled

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    Source: Doaa Khaled

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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, School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–24
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Education
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISPT0445

Incident date

October 21, 2023

Location

دير البلح, Deir al Balah, Deir Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.417639, 34.350276 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around dawn (local time) on Saturday, October 21, 2023, nine civilians, including one woman and six children, were killed, and a number of civilians were injured by an alleged Israeli airstrike in the al-Hawajri family home in Deir Balah, Gaza Strip.

Those killed include four brothers Hamza Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (aged 21 or 22), Harith Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (15 or 16), Muhammad Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (11 or 12), and Omar Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (5), their two sisters, Saja Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (13) and Amal Ahmed Zidan al-Hawajri (27), as well as nephews (sons of Amal) Ayman al-Jayeh (3) and Ahmed al-Jayeh (1), and brother-in-law Ibrahim Abu Loz (26). At least one other relative of the family, Zeina Zidane Al-Hawajri’s father (and likely grandfather to Hamza and siblings), was injured in the attack but the same source indicated that the number of injured was higher.

Alwatan voice reported “At dawn… dozens of martyrs and wounded in new Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip…According to what was reported by the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza, the [Israeli] aircraft bombed a house for the “Al-Hawajri” family in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip, and there were a number of martyrs and wounded.” Similarly, @qudsn posted on X, “The [Israeli] aircraft bombed a house for the Al-Hawajri family in Deir Balah, killing a number of family members and wounding them.” Photographs posted on Facebook by @Maaliepress1 show the complete destruction of the Al-Hawajri family home, with numerous people scouring through the rubble.

Following the incident, family member Yahia [al-Hawajri] wrote on Facebook that “Israel bombed our house today. My brothers Hamza, Muhammad, Omar and Harith were martyred. My sisters, Saja and Amal, and Amal’s two children, Ayman and Ahmed. And my sister’s husband, Ibrahim Abu Loz. Oh my beloved, I hope you are in a better place and comfortable. You will always live inside my heart.” Amal’s husband Mahmoud Al-Jayeh also posted a condolence message to his wife and two sons who were killed, along with an image of the young boys in matching outfits.

Facebook user Abu Omar Al-Ramlawi, who was contacting the family about the “Brotherhood of Friends of Blogging” initiative wrote, “#Zeina, our precious daughter and dear friend…the patient and stationed woman, was saddened today by the martyrdom of her nephews as a result of the bombing and destruction of their house at the heads of the family at dawn today…Despite her young age, she is the aunt of an entire generation of young people, whom she lost. 8 today…despite the number of the injured people, [S]he and her family were patient, patient, and steadfast…Her father, as of 5 p.m., was still waiting to enter the operating room to undergo an operation to treat the effects of his injury in the bombing.”

All names have been matched with the Palestinian Ministry of Health list of fatalities in Gaza released on 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 around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (10)

Hamza Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri, حمزة أحمد زيدان الحواجري
22 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 406129072
Muhammad Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri محمد أحمد زيدان الحواجري
11 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 432167930
Omar Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri , محمد أحمد زيدان الحواجري
5 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 441122363
Harith Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri, حارث أحمد زيدان الحواجري
15 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 421783937
Saja Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri سجى أحمد زيدان الحواجري
13 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 429972391
Amal Ahmed Zidan Al-Hawajri أمل أحمد زيدان الحواجري
27 years old female killed Matched to MoH ID 401034038
Ayman Mahmoud Ayman Al-Jayeh أيمن محمود أيمن الجايح
3 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 443023882
Ahmed Mahmoud Ayman Al-Jayeh أحمد محمود أيمن الجايح
1 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 445790033
Ibrahim Musbah Ahmad Abu Loz , إبراهيم أبو لوز
26 years old male killed Matched to MoH ID 402964175
father of Zeina Zidane Al-Hawajri
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Asma

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    Source: Asma

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    Source: Yosef

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    Source: Abo Mouen

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    Source: Mahmod

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    Source: Montaser

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    Source: Tareq Rabee

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Deir al Balah (دير البلح), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.417639,34.350276. 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Residential building
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (6 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

ISSY-200119-C

Incident date

January 20–21, 2019

Location

دمشق, Damascus, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between four and nine belligerents, specifically members of the Syrian regime military, were killed and six others were injured in alleged Israeli airstrikes on Damascus after midnight between January 20, 2019 to January 21, 2019.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that strikes were carried out in the “vicinity of Damascus International Airport” and gave an overall assessment that the strikes resulted in the “killing of 11 people including 2 Syrian nationals” but did not specify if those were in Damascus or in other locations. They also identified Iranian, Hezbollah, and regime forces as being hit in the strikes.

According to Sputnik News, “four members of the Syrian army were killed and six wounded in the Israeli bombing of Syria last night, the National Center for Defense Management in Russia said, citing partial damage to the infrastructure of Damascus International Airport.”

The BBC reported “A statement issued later said Israeli fighter jets had hit munition storage sites, a site located in Damascus International Airport, an Iranian intelligence site and an Iranian military training camp. The jets also struck several Syrian military air defence batteries after dozens of surface-to-air missiles were launched.”

A post by Free Deir Ezzor Radio included details that “Israeli raids targeting the capital Damascus and destroying weapons depots and military points for the Iranians and Lebanese Hezbollah in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.” Manartalforat2018 also posted that “The Israeli army is launching large-scale raids on targets belonging to the Iranian Quds militia within Syrian territory.”

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the strikes occurred at 1:10am and added that “the Israeli aggression was carried out from above the Lebanese territory, the Galilee and Lake Tiberias, using various types of weapons.”

Step News Agency gave the specific location “a number of Israeli missiles targeted the vicinity of Damascus International Airport, adjacent to an operations room belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.”

The Israeli Defense Force issued a statement on January 20th that “We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory.” They did not reference any specific location.

The incident occured at 01:10:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.
  • Images from the Syrian Arab News Agency of the alleged Israeli strikes on areas surrounding Damascus on January 20/21, 2019.

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Israeli Military
Official source

The Israeli Defense Force issued a statement on January 20th that "We have started striking Iranian Quds targets in Syrian territory. We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Israeli Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, Hezbollah, Iranian military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    6

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT019

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

زلاطة, Zalata, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.260063, 34.29657 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a child, were killed and another civilian, a child, was injured in artillery strikes on the Zalata neighborhood in Al-Shoka, eastern Rafah on May 12, 2021.

According to @PalinfoAr, “an elderly man was killed, and a child was wounded by an Israeli artillery shelling of agricultural land east of Rafah”. However, Israel-Palestine Timeline reported that “the soldiers killed an elderly Palestinian man, and a child, when the army fired missiles into agricultural lands”.

A post from Abo Ashraf identified the name of the elderly man: Hammad Ayyad Mansour al-Dabbari, 86 years old.

Diaa Al Badri posted on Facebook about the life of Hammad: “Hammad Ayyad al-Dabari was born in al-Amarah – Beersheba district in 1935, and on its land he grew up, joined al-Amarah school and finished the ninth grade, and after the Zionist gangs committed many heinous massacres and terrorist acts against the Palestinian people, the family of Ayyad al-Dabari was forced to flee to what was left from their land east of Rafah, and after repeated Zionist attacks on various places in the Gaza Strip, Lieutenant-Colonel Mustafa Hafez was assigned in 1955 to form a battalion of Palestinian fedayeen to work behind enemy lines. [He was] in charge of reconnaissance operations inside the occupied Palestinian Territories and determining the goals according to the instructions of the leadership, and he participated in the war of 1956 and 1967, then he continued his struggle in the bases of the guerrillas in the outer squares, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon”.

Al Mezan reported that “at 8:20pm, medical sources at Rafah’s Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital announced the death of Hammad Ayyad Mansour Al-Dabari, 86, as a result of an injury to his head caused by the shrapnel of a missile that hit near his home in the Zalata neighborhood in Al-Shoka, eastern Rafah”.

The National News Agency obtained a statement from the “Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine” and its military wing, the “National Resistance Brigades” mourning Hammad Ayyad al-Dabari, who died in an Israeli raid in the Shoka area east of Rafah, while performing his national duty.

Multiple sources identified Israel as responsible for the shelling. The NGO Monitor differs in that it reported that “Al Haq and PCHR both reported that the circumstances of the incident were still under investigation, but “coincided with the firing and interception of homemade Palestinian rockets from the Israeli Iron Dome system, and the firing of Israeli artillery shells.” It also reported, “Omission of Hamas role: Al Haq’s and PCHR’s explanations are inconsistent with Iron Dome’s capabilities and deployment in intercepting rockets, which could not conceivably have intercepted a rocket over Rafah.”

The NGO Monitor included this incident in a table titled, “Palestinian Casualties Likely Caused by Palestinian Weapons.”

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

The victims were named as:

Hammad Ayyad Mansour al-Dabbari حماد عياد منصور الدباري
86 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Image of Hammad Ayyad Mansour al-Dabbari, killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on agricultural land east of Rafah on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Diaa Al Badri via Facebook)
  • Image of Hammad Ayyad Mansour al-Dabbari, killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on agricultural land east of Rafah on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Abo Ashraf via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Hammad Ayyad Mansour al-Dabbari, killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes on agricultural land east of Rafah on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Ali Fahedi via Facebook)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Zalata (زلاطة) neighbourhood, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.260063, 34.296570. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Zalata (زلاطة) neighbourhood.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Israeli Military, Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT052

Incident date

May 14, 2021

Location

بين حيي السلاطين والعطاطره, Street between Al Atatra and Al Salatin, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.557877, 34.487532 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were killed, including a mother and her three young children, in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahia on May 14th, 2021. Dozens of injuries were also reported by Wafa news.

The family of four killed were identified as 28-year-old Lamya Hassan Mohammed Al-Atar, and her three children; Islam, aged seven, Amira, aged six, and Mohammed, an eight-month-old baby. According to Palestine News and Info, an additional two bodies were pulled from the rubble sometime later. They were not named in the reports.

B’Tselem collected testimony from Muhammad al-‘Attar, 37, whose family was killed in the incident: “On Thursday night, after midnight, there was heavy bombing in the northern Gaza Strip – in Beit Hanoun and northern Beit Lahiya. Everyone was very tense and stressed because the noise was very loud, especially as it was the middle of the night and everything else was quiet. Half an hour after it all began, we heard an explosion nearby. The noise was horrifying. We thought it might be a good idea to get out of the apartment, but we hesitated because the bombings were right by the house. Suddenly, in one moment, there was an explosion inside and the house crashed down on us. I found myself under debris, in complete darkness. I tried to get out from under it, but couldn’t. I turned on the phone flashlight and tried to find my wife and children, but I couldn’t see them or hear any of their voices. I called my uncle, who works for the rescue team. I said: “Come quickly. We’re under rubble because our house was bombed, help!” I told him I couldn’t find my wife and children and that the rest of my family was trapped under the rubble. The rescue teams arrived after more than half an hour. They started picking up the debris – stones, sand, furniture, everything. After an hour and a half, they found my wife with her arms around our three children, but none of them were alive. They were covered in concrete and sand and had suffocated immediately. I saw them, but they looked like they were asleep. It was a terrible shock when I realized they weren’t moving or breathing, that they were lifeless bodies. We were all taken to Kamal ‘Adwan Hospital, where we had tests and X-rays and were treated. The next day, with a broken heart and deep sorrow, we laid the martyrs to rest: my wife and my children, Islam, Amirah and Muhammad.”

Manar al-‘Attar, 40, mother of five, Lamyaa’s sister-in-law, also provided testimony: “On Thursday, after midnight, we were all home. That day, there were heavy Israeli airstrikes. My husband Ihab went to the bedroom, and I stayed with my sons in the living room. At around midnight, I told my husband to come be with us in the living room. As soon as he left the bedroom, it was bombed. The windows shattered and all the doors in the house crashed. We all screamed and cried. We ran from the living room to the kitchen. A few seconds later, Ihab said he thought it was over and everything was quiet. But then the house started shaking and I fell over. We looked at each other and didn’t understand what was happening. The fridge fell on my husband and then the ceiling collapsed on us and on top of the fridge. There was a gas leak and we felt that we were suffocating. We screamed and called out for help, but no one heard us. My son-in-law turned on his phone’s flashlight and turned off the gas valve. My sons and daughters were screaming because they thought their father was dead. I grabbed Ihab’s hand and asked him if he was okay, and he said that he was. He asked me to get out of the house with the kids and leave him there, but I refused. My daughter Nur called an ambulance and the Civil Defense, but they didn’t pick up. She called relatives and asked for help. About 15 minutes later, I heard my brother-in-law Bahaa, 39. He called out and my daughters shouted back. He came right away and got them out. Then my brother-in-law Tamim, 30, came and helped Bahaa get us out from under the debris. They got all my kids out. I refused to leave and insisted on staying with my husband. He was trapped under the fridge. It was hard to move it, and we were also afraid the ceiling would fall on him. My brothers-in-law tried to get him out for about 45 minutes and miraculously, managed in the end. Thank God, my husband emerged safe and sound and we weren’t hurt. When we were outside, we shone our flashlights on the house and saw it was in ruins. We were sure Lamyaa and her small children were dead. Everyone was looking for them under the rubble and calling out to her. At around 1:00 A.M., my brother-in-law Bahaa said he’d seen Lamyaa and her kids under the rubble and couldn’t save them. He said they’d been killed. At around 2:00 A.M., Civil Defense vehicles and ambulances arrived and got Lamyaa and her young children out from under the rubble. They were taken to Kamal ‘Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. We all moved to the UNRWA schools in the a-Rimal neighborhood. We were barefoot and had only the clothes on our backs, most of which were torn. We were in shock by what had happened to us and were very sad. We got to the school, which was unlivable. There were no water, food, mattresses or clothes, but it was safer than being at home. We didn’t get to say goodbye to Lamyaa and the kids. Their bodies were taken out of the freezers and immediately buried. Only my husband, my brothers-in-law and a few other relatives attended the funeral. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. I can’t describe it. I wanted to say goodbye to her and hug her and the kids. I couldn’t believe I’d lost them. I still haven’t processed what happened. Lamyaa was a very good woman. I loved her, and we were almost inseparable. Lamyaa’s kids were always at my house, playing with my son Ahmad. He keeps asking about them and can’t believe they’re dead. He keeps asking us to get them out from under the rubble, like we removed some of the furniture. He’s in a bad emotional state. At night, when the power is cut off, he screams and says our house is about to be destroyed and asks us not to leave him.”

The civilian casualties resulted from an airstrike hitting a three-story building where the al-Atar family lived shortly before midnight, according to multiple sources. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said it hit agricultural land near the house.

Amnesty International interviewed Hassan Al-Atar, the father of Lamya Mohammed Al-Atar and also the grandfather of Islam, Amira and Mohammed. Described as a civil defence officer by Amnesty (others sources refer to him specifically as a firefighter), he told them how headed to the scene with an ambulance and rescue team after a relative had phoned him with news of the attack. He was at work when the bombing happened.

He gave the following account: “I arrived at the house, which is made up of three stories – 20 people live there – I tried to find people, but I could not. Then the rescue team arrived to help and we eventually found my daughter, a mother of three, with her children, one of whom was a baby, under one of the cement pillars of the house; all of them were dead. The other residents seem to have managed to escape from an opening after the bombing and got to the hospital. I was shocked.”

Muhammad al-Atar, the father of the children and the husband of Lamya, told the New York Times how the first strike hit the entrance of their ground floor apartment, trapping the family. A second, moments later, brought the whole house down. While Muhammad was able to dig himself out, he told reporters that a concrete pillar crushed his wife and children, their bodies found still together.

While the Israeli military did not confirm carrying out this particular strike, it did confirm a large number of strikes around the city of Beit Lahia. The Times of Israel reported the Israeli Defence Forces saying they dropped 450 missiles on 150 targets over a 40 minute period in northern Gaza, mostly around Beit Lahia city. Some 160 aircraft flying simultaneously carried out the attack, which it said was conducted on a network of Hamas tunnels. B’Tselem also reported that “According to the military, Hamas’ tunnel network ran close to the house.”

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Lamya Hassan Mohammed Al-Atar لمياء حسن محمد العطار
28 years old female Lamya was killed alongside her three children whose deaths are recorded below killed
Amira al-Atar أميرة العطار
7 years old female killed
Islam al-Atar إسلام العطار
8 years old male killed
Mohammed محمد العطار
8 months years old male
Muhammad al-'Attar
37 years old male injured
Ihab, Manar al-‘Attar's husband
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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 (47) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Translated image caption: Pictures from the effects of the bombing last night on the city of Beit Lahia, which is located in the border area with the occupied entity in northern Palestine (via @Yaminism)
  • Damage reportedly from the airstrikes carried out in Beit Lahia on May 14th, 2021. Up to six civilians were killed in the strike (image via @Yaminism)
  • People walking through rubble from alleged Israeli airstrikes carried out in Beit Lahia on May 14th, 2021. The Israeli military dropped 450 missiles over a 40 minute period on northern Gaza (image via @Yaminism)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of the bodies of two children killed on May 14th, 2021 (image via @RezqAboShkian)
  • Image shared on social media showing two children, Islam and his sister Amira, who were killed in reported Israeli airstrikes alongside their mother and other brother (image via Sara Mohammed Ramdan)
  • Caption reads: The Israeli Air Force bombs Gaza tunnels, May 14th, 2021 (IAF screenshot) (image via Times of Israel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption: A video being shared online reportedly shows Gazan civil defence worker Hassan Al-Attar identifying his daughter Lamya in a morgue after she and three children in the family were kiled by an Israeli air strike on Beit Lahia. The quiet dignity of the men is the toughest part (via @CampbellMacD)
  • Image caption: Muhammad al-Attar, 37, sits on his destroyed home in Beit Lahia, North Gaza, on Monday, May 31, 2021. Al-Attar's three sons and his wife were killed during the Israeli bombing of their house during the recent confrontations between Gaza and Israel (via UPI)
  • Caption: Footage shows heavy damage done by Israeli airstrikes to the residential areas in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza (via @presstv)
  • Video of airstrikes hitting Beit Lahia on May 14th, 2021 (via @ShehabAgency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children from the Al Attar family killed in strikes on Beit Lahia on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Zahret Al Mada’en via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children from the Al Attar family killed in strikes on Beit Lahia on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by Zahret Al Mada’en via Facebook)
  • Muhammad al-'Attar, whose wife and three kids were killed in strikes on Beit Lahia on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by B'Tselem)
  • Muhammad al-'Attar's home, destroyed in strikes that killed his wife and three kids on May 14, 2021. (Image posted by B'Tselem)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a street between the Al Atatra (العطاطره) and Al Salatin (السلاطين) neighbourhoods of Beit Lahia (بيت لاهيا‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we could not verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Atatra are: 31.559611, 34.486911. The generic coordinates for Al Salatin are: 31.552571, 34.486117. The street between them can be found at the generic coordinates: 31.557877, 34.487532.

  • Reports of the incident mention a street between the Al Atatra (العطاطره) and Al Salatin (السلاطين) neighbourhoods of Beit Lahia (بيت لاهيا‎).

    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
    4 – 6
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • 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 (47) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT085

Incident date

May 16, 2021

Location

الزيتون, Al Zeitoun, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.537061, 34.526397 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three men were killed and one to four others were injured in an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, around 19:15 on 16th May 2021.

Multiple sources report the deaths of Moaz Nabil al-Zaanin, aged 23, Mohamed Awni Al-Zaanin, aged 25 and Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, aged 31 in the strike. Bassam Al Mawy, writing on Facebook, described the three men as friends. Although Al Watan Voice describes them as “citizens”, Palestinian Islamic Jihad identified all three as members of the militant group.

Sources are not consistent as to the level of injuries in the strike, with @NnnoMmmo and Shihab Post citing one critical injury, and Aqsa TV Channel giving a figure of four injuries.

According to Al Khabar news, the Israeli airstrike hit the house of Moaz al-Zaanin, killing the three men instantly. Al Watan Voice has described the strike as taking place near a Qassam site, suggesting that the strike may have been directed towards military infrastructure.

Moaz Al-Zaanin was a professional football player, playing with Beit Hanoun Sports Club and Jabalia Services, and was a member of the Palestinian national football team. The Palestine Football Association quoted His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, who said: “Al-Zaanin had a great enthusiasm for the game, and the Asian football family shares with me the sadness of the loss of another young talent who passed away at an early age.”

Various Palestinian sources claim that all three men were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). @AhmedAboShnb1 writing on Twitter noted that all three were members of an artillery unit of Saraya Al-Quds, PIJ’s paramilitary wing, while the Saraya Al-Quds website post pictures of all three men in PIJ uniform, describing each of them as ‘shahid mujahid’, a common formulation used to describe militia-members killed in combat.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (61) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (35) [ collapse]

  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Mohamed Awni Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Mohamed Awni Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @fidaazaanin)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @alizeindin)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, and Muhammad Awni Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @AhmadShokry19)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @n8eZzJeF1RYrfzQ)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, and Muhammad Awni Al-Zaanin, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @azir__sh)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @shadi_a_sh)
  • Rescue workers remove the bodies of victims of airstrikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @NnnoMmmo)
  • Rescue workers remove the bodies of victims of airstrikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @NnnoMmmo)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Safa News)
  • Son of Moaz Nabil al-Zaanin, mourning the death of his father who was killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Momin via Facebook
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Raed Naem via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by SouqGaza via Facebook)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @nagwa_202)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Yusuf Al-Kafarneh, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Muhammad Awni Al-Za`anin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Saraya Palestine)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @doamuslims)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Elders of Zion)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by Elders of Zion Blogspot)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a player of the Palestinian Beit Lahia Club, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @doamuslims)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @Suatklctsn)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @Suatklctsn)
  • Moaz Nabil Al-Zaanin, a member of the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, killed in strikes on the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Beit Hanoun on May 16, 2021. (Image posted by @Suatklctsn)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Zeitoun (الزيتون) neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.537061, 34.526397. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Zeitoun (الزيتون) neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun (بيت حانون‎).

    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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Palestinian Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (61) [ collapse]

Incident Code

M21ISPT121

Incident date

May 19, 2021

Location

شارع البركة, Opposite Capital Mall, Deir Al Balah, the Gaza Strip

Geolocation

31.515906, 34.448767 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four people, including a pregnant woman, a disabled man and a child – likely members of the same family – and their neighbour, were reported killed by alleged Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, at approximately 4pm on May 19th 2021.

Those killed were reported to be members of the Salha family: Amani Youssef Mahawesh, aged between 33-38, her husband, a disabled man, Iyad Salha, aged between 33-38, and their two or three year old daughter, Nagham Iyad. Some sources also mentioned another unidentified male killed in the strike.

Ms. Mahawesh was reportedly seven or eight months pregnant.

Quds Press report that “several others were wounded.”

Arab 48 News reported, “the [Salha] family was preparing for lunch before their death. The family’s living room was destroyed, and bloodstains and body parts mixed with their belongings. In the middle of the house, part of a small red bicycle remained among the burnt objects.”

It said, “the Israeli bombing of Deir al-Balah destroyed the wall of the house overlooking the sea shore from the western side, and directly hit the kitchen, in which a fire broke out that destroyed all its contents, and caused damage to the three rooms of the apartment.”

“When the house was bombed, Iyad’s brother, Omar, was sitting with his friends in a neighbour’s house.

“They were preparing for lunch,” he added, asking “What did my brother do? He is in a wheelchair. He thought he was safe at home.” He explained that his brother was unemployed and lived in one room in the family’s apartment with his mother and three of his brothers. He said, “he was suffering from brain atrophy, which led to his permanent movement disability.”

Arab 48 News reported that Mr. Salha’s mother, Umm Iyad, 58, was not at home when it was bombed, as she had left to go to her brother’s house in Deir al-Balah refugee camp, as it was “safer.” His mother said, “He was praying for calm. He died a martyr while waiting for a new baby.”

France 24 reported that “the Israeli army did not comment in particular on Wednesday’s strike on Deir al-Balah.” They also reported that, “it was not immediately clear whether Salha’s apartment was intentionally targeted by the Israeli army, or whether it was bombed by mistake.”

However, Israeli research organisation the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Center reported that the rocket which “hit on a house on Al Barakah Street in Deir al-Balah. Apparently a failed launch. The matter is under investigation by the Palestinians.”

France 24 also reports that “Israel’s army has said it seeks to avoid “collateral damage” from strikes that are aimed at military targets. It has also repeatedly said that misfired rockets from Palestinian groups which have landed inside Gaza Strip could be responsible for civilian deaths in the enclave, although there was no immediate indication a Palestinian rocket caused the family’s death.”

Defence for Children International Palestine “continues to investigate whether the missile was fired by an Israeli warplane or a weaponised aerial drone.”

Quds News network reported that “local sources said Israeli jets struck a house without any warning.”

The incident occured at approximately 4:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Iyad Salha اياد صالحة
33-35 years old male killed
Amani Youssef Mahawesh أماني يوسف مهاوش
33-38 years old female pregnant killed
Nagham Iyad Salha نغم إياد صالحة
2 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • 1 of 3: The scenes of the house where the Salha family lived, after allegedly being hit by an Israeli forces' airstrike, killing Iyad Salha, Amani Youssef Mahawesh and their two year old daughter, Nagham Iyad on May 19th 2021 (Activist Samar Alyazji / Facebook).
  • 1 of 2: The scenes of the house where the Salha family lived, after allegedly being hit by an Israeli forces' airstrike, killing Iyad Salha, Amani Youssef Mahawesh and their two year old daughter, Nagham Iyad on May 19th 2021 (Activist Samar Alyazji / Facebook).
  • 3 of 3: The scenes of the house where the Salha family lived, after allegedly being hit by an Israeli forces' airstrike, killing Iyad Salha, Amani Youssef Mahawesh and their two year old daughter, Nagham Iyad on May 19th 2021 (Activist Samar Alyazji / Facebook).
  • Nagham Iyad, aged 2, allegedly killed by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (Abdulrahman / Facebook).
  • Iyad Salha and his daughter Nagham Iyad, aged two years, who were both allegedly killed in an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (Dayf / Facebook).
  • The Salha family house, which was allegedly hit by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@SalahAbuSalah16 / Twitter)
  • Iyad Salha, aged 33-25, allegedly killed in by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@JumaasDana / Twitter).
  • Wreckage left by an alleged Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@JumaasDana / Twitter).
  • The Salha family were allegedly killed when an Israeli forces' airstrike hit their house on May 19th 2021 (@JumaasDana / Twitter)
  • Iyad Salha with his daughter Nagham Iyad, aged 2, who were allegedly killed on May 19th 2021 when an Israeli forces' airstrike hit their house (@LinahAlsaafin / Twitter)
  • Picture of the destruction of Iyad Salha's house, who was allegedly killed by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@7amza_AlHamza / Twitter).
  • 1 of 4: Relatives inspect the damage inside the Salha family home on May 19th 2021 (AFP)
  • The scene after the alleged Israeli forces' airstrike which killed the Salha family (May 19th 2021 / AFP)
  • 1 of 2: Victims of the airstrike of May 19th 2021, which allegedly killed the Salha family (Alarabiya / May 20th 2021)
  • 2 of 2: Victims of the airstrike of May 19th 2021, which allegedly killed the Salha family (Alarabiya / May 20th 2021)
  • "A man cries in a hospital in #Gaza after the martyrdom of his disabled brother, Iyad Salha, his pregnant wife and their daughter, as a result of an air strike from the Israeli occupation that was directed at their house." (Al Jazeera / May 20th 2021)
  • 2 of 4: Relatives inspect the damage inside the Salha family home on May 19th 2021 (AFP)
  • 3 of 4: Relatives inspect the damage inside the Salha family home on May 19th 2021 (AFP)
  • 4 of 4: Relatives inspect the damage inside the Salha family home on May 19th 2021 (AFP)
  • A disabled Palestinian youth, Iyad Salha, 33, was preparing for lunch, Wednesday, when a missile fired by an Israeli warplane hit his family home in Gaza, killing him, his pregnant wife and their three-year-old daughter. (Alarabiya / May 20th 2021).
  • 1 of 3: "A physically disabled father, a pregnant mother, a daughter, and a child. These four were among the bank of the occupation’s air force targets, and they were killed in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip." (@PalinfoAr / Twitter)
  • 2 of 3: "A physically disabled father, a pregnant mother, a daughter, and a child. These four were among the bank of the occupation’s air force targets, and they were killed in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip." (@PalinfoAr / Twitter)
  • 3 of 3: "A physically disabled father, a pregnant mother, a daughter, and a child. These four were among the bank of the occupation’s air force targets, and they were killed in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip." (@PalinfoAr / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Nagham Iyad, aged 2, who was allegedly killed by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@MohMhawesh / Twitter)
  • Iyad Salha and Nagham Iyad who were allegedly killed by an Israeli forces' airstrike on May 19th 2021 (@MohMhawesh / Twitter)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the town of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analyzing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location to an area that shows evidence of destruction opposite the Capital Mall building. The exact coordinates are: 31.515906, 34.448767.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the town of Deir Al Balah (دير البلح). Analyzing audio-visual material we have narrowed down the location to an area that shows evidence of destruction opposite the Capital Mall building.

    Imagery:
    Planet

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 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (49) [ collapse]