Israel and Gaza 2023

Israel and Gaza 2023

Satellite imagery, screenshot from Google Earth, October 2023

Belligerent
Palestinian Militants
Country
Israel
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Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

PALIS032

Incident date

May 20–21, 2021

Location

بيري, Beeri, Israel

Geolocation

31.423889, 34.489722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man was injured in a reported Palestinian rocket attack on the Kibbutz of Be’eri in southern Israel, on May 20th 2021, according to local reports.

The Magon David Adom ambulance service said its staff provided medical care to a 53-year-old man who was transported to hospital in a light condition. Walla News reported the man was injured by shrapnel and gave his age at 59. The rocket struck a printing house in the Eshkol Regional Council, according to Ynet.

The incident occurred in the hours before the start of a ceasefire which came into effect at 02:00, according to Walla News. IDF Spokesman Hedi Zilberman told the source: “In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, we boarded dozens of aircraft into the Gaza Strip at midnight, mainly UAVs and fighter jets, ready to attack dozens of targets.” Mr Zilberman told the source: “We sent a message to Hamas that if there is a significant barrage of fire, we will act. In practice, about 40 rockets were fired. Midnight to 02:00.” According to the spokesperson, 90% of the missiles were aimed at open spaces.

In a post on Facebook, Mohamad Abo Halawah, said the Al-Quds Brigades had released a statement declaring they had targeted the area with several rockets in response to recent enemy attacks. However, we were unable to locate that statement.

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

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
53 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Beeri (בארי), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.423889, 34.489722. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS015

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

سديروت, Sderot, Israel

Geolocation

31.531449, 34.585562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and three to seven family members, including a woman and two children, were reported injured when a rocket declared by Hamas’s militant wing allegedly hit a residential street in Sderot, southern Israel on May 12th, 2021, according to local reports.

Ido Avigal, 5, was killed whilst he and his family were taking shelter in a safe room, said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The New York Times reported that a missile hit a building close to his aunt’s home causing a piece of shrapnel to penetrate the room’s thick glass window striking Ido in the stomach.

Paramedics, Aviv Shenor and Yossi Halabi, told Ynet: “When we arrived at the scene, we saw an attack on the fifth floor of a six-story building. No injuries were identified in the building, but in a nearby building on the fourth floor we noticed shrapnel penetrating the window of the house and when we went up to the apartment we saw an unconscious child with shrapnel wounds. We gave him life-saving medical treatment and performed CPR on him, and after urgent treatment, we quickly evacuated him to the hospital while CPR continued.”

The Magen David Adom (MDA) medical service said its staff provided medical care and evacuated seven injured people to Barzilai Hospital. The Jerusalem Post reported that among the injured were Shani Avigal, Ido mother, his six year old sister and five members of the extended family including his six-year-old cousin. Shani Avigal was injured by shrapnel to her upper body and a child was said to be in a stable condition having been treated for shrapnel wounds, according to the MDA.

@PalinfoAr originally reported that only three civilians were injured in the strikes.

On May 26th Shani Avigal told The New York Times Ido had suffered with anxiety since the start of the conflict and did not want to sleep, shower or eat alone, she described her son as caring and loving.

On the May 12th El Watan published an announcement by the group Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades: “In continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and the targeting of civilian facilities, the Qassam Brigades bombard the Zionist Sderot with 20 missiles.”

Reports of the attack began circulating at approximately 19:45, although the Al-Qassam Brigades released a statement at 18:36 which stated, “in continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and targeting of civilian facilities, Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped Zionist Sderot with 20 rockets.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ido Avigal
5 years old male killed
Shani Avigal
Adult female injured
Sister of Ido
6 years old female injured
Cousin of Ido
6 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • 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
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Shrapnel from a missile strike on Sderot penetrated the window of the shelter that Ido was hiding in and killed him on may 12th, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Ido Avigal, 5, was killed whilst he and his family were taking shelter in a safe room following strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Times of Israel)
  • Damage to a building and fire caused by strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by @qudsn)
  • Injuries caused by a rocket fired from Gaza at a house in Sderot Several people, including a child, were injured after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building in Sderot on Wednesday. Ambulances and officers were on site to provide care for the wounded
  • Rescue workers treat the wounded following strikes on Sderot on May 12, 2021. (Image posted by Alkoufiya News)
  • Students of a school in southern Israel gathered at the home of 6-year-old Ido Avigal, who was killed by a terrorist rocket fired by Hamas last week, and sang the Israeli national anthem “Hatikva” (Hope). (Image posted by Standwithusarabic via Facebook)
  • Statement from @UnitedHatzalah, posted by @samuelsokol
  • Shrapnel from a missile strike on Sderot penetrated the window of the shelter that Ido was hiding in and killed him on may 12th, 2021. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in Sderot (שדרות ). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down this location to these exact coordinates: 31.531449, 34.585562.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in Sderot (שדרות )

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged street view image from 2012 shows the area undeveloped.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged audio-material from sources.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

18:32
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
One dead, a number of wounded, and heavy material losses were caused by the rockets fired by the Al-Qassam Brigades on Sderot and Ashkelon.


18:36
In continuation of the response to the assassination of leaders and targeting of civilian facilities, Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the usurped Zionist Sderot with 20 rockets.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–7
  • 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
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (42) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS023

Incident date

May 14, 2021

Location

بئر السبع, Beersheba, Israel

Geolocation

31.258889, 34.799722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A missile fired by alleged Palestinian militants directly hit a house in the Israeli city of Beersheba according to several sources.

Those physically injured included a 78 year old female victim with limb and head injuries, a 50 year old male victim with an injury to his limbs, a 54 year old woman with a facial injury and another female victim in her 70s.

Multiple sources also reported that 19 civilians were taken to Soroka Hospital after the attack due to indirect harm: 16 sustained light injuries whilst running to bomb shelters and three were being treated for shock.

Multiple sources claimed the incident occurred in the evening.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
78 years old female injured
Name unknown
54 years old female injured
Name unknown
50 years old male injured
Name unknown
70-79 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'The apartment that was damaged this morning in Be'er Sheva. Photo: Husias Montenegro'
  • Damage to a building in Beersheeba that was hit by a missile reportedly fired by Palestinian Militants (image via Beersheva Mynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a house being struck in the city of Beersheba (באר שבע) for which the generic coordinates are: 31.258889, 34.799722. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

14 May, 2021
21:05
Al-Qassam Brigades bombard occupied Beersheba with a missile launch

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS011

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Israel, Israel

Geolocation

31.667186, 34.557510 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two women were killed when a Hamas militant rocket struck an apartment building on Sderot David Ben Gurion street in the city of Ashkelon, southern Israel on May 11th, 2021, according to several sources.

The Times of Israel said, “the deadly rocket attack directly struck a home where an elderly woman and her caregiver, 32-year-old Soumya Santosh, lived. Santosh was killed while her elderly charge, 80, was hospitalized in serious condition, according to Hebrew media reports”.

On February 6, 2022, the elderly woman injured in the attack, Naomi Perlman, a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor who was seriously wounded at her Ashkelon home by shrapnel, died from her injuries.

According to several sources Santosh from Kerala had been living in Israel for seven years. She was survived by a husband and nine-year-old son.

Mrs Santosh’s brother-in-law told The Week India, “she was talking to her husband Santosh over a video call in the evening when the incident took place. My brother heard a huge sound during the video call. Suddenly the phone got disconnected. Then we immediately contacted fellow Malayalees working there. Thus, we came to know about the incident.”

The Washington Post reported that Naomi Pearlman was a “a Holocaust survivor originally from Poland” and that the blast had caused both of her legs to be amputated. Her son, Shuki, was quoted as saying “She survived the Holocaust, raised a wonderful family. If there was anyone who deserved to be called the ultimate survivor, it was her.”

Jerusalem Post added that Pearlman was being treated at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for the injuries she sustained in May 2021 and that she is survived by her son, her daughter, Tzipi, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, including one who was born last month. At the time of the shelling, her home did not have a shelter and the closest was a minute’s run away.

The incident was part of a series of rocket strikes on the morning of May 11th.
Channel 12 reported that the rocket shelter was at least a minute’s run away from the woman’s home and the did not manage to reach it in time.

Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed they carried out the strikes that resulted in casualties, posting in their Telegram channel that “A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles” and a bit later “The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon.”

The incident is believed to have occurred between 05:00 and 13:40 local time.

The incident occured at approximately 6:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Soumya Santosh
32 years old female killed
Naomi Perlman
91 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This image reportedly shows Sumaya Santosh who died in a strike in Askelon, Israel, on May 11th, 2021 (image via @alqudsnewspaper)
  • Image reportedly showing the son of Soumya Santosh holding a pin of the Israeli and Indian flags at her funeral (image via Asaf Pozailov)
  • Image caption: The damage to the building where the woman who was killed in Ashkelon lived, today the photo (via Ofer Vaknin)
  • Rescue crews helping a victim of the strikes on Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by Arabic RT)
  • Rescue crews at a home affected by airstrikes on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by Shihab Post)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • Damage to a home affected by airstrikes in Ashkelon on May 11, 2021. (Image posted by @PalinfoAr)
  • A heavily damaged house is pictured at a targeted residential neighbourhood in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on May 11, 2021, as rockets are fired by the Hamas movement from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. - Rockets fired from Gaza killed two women in the southern Israeli city of Asheklon, the Magen David Adom emergency service told AFP, after Palestinians militants unleashed a massive barrage. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
  • Israeli security forces at the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, on May 11, 2021. Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90
  • A heavily damaged house is pictured at a targeted residential neighbourhood in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on May 11, 2021, as rockets are fired by the Hamas movement from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. - Rockets fired from Gaza killed two women in the southern Israeli city of Asheklon, the Magen David Adom emergency service told AFP, after Palestinians militants unleashed a massive barrage. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an apartment building being struck in Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location of the strike to these exact coordinates: 31.667186, 34.557510.

  • Reports of the incident mention an apartment building being struck in Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Ynet

  • Distribution of tags in available Google Street View imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Maps

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants
Official source

12:46
A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles

12:58
The enemy admits that a building in Ashkelon was hit and several injuries occurred, including serious cases, as a result of the recent Qassamese bombing with Sejil missiles

13:14
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (41) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS014

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

دهمش‎, Dahmash, Israel

Geolocation

31.943672, 34.849476 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and teenage daughter were killed when an alleged Hamas rocket struck the village of Dahmash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021, according to local and international media reports.

Khalil Awad, 52, and Nadin Awad, 16, were killed on Wednesday morning when a rocket fired from Gaza landed close to their home, said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Arafat Ismail, Mr Khalil’s brother, told Ynet that the father and daughter were killed while they, and members of their family, were eating breakfast before dawn as part of the Ramadan fast. Aswat reports that Mrs. Awad and her eldest son and other daughter survived, and were taken to hospital for treatment as a result of the shock.

The status of the predominantly Arab village, which has a population of 1,000 residents, is subject to a relocation scheme. As such the population does not have access to publicly available shelters similar to those found elsewhere in Israel, according to Aswat.

Suzan Awad, the wife and mother of the victims, described the incident to Human Rights Watch: “Our village is totally neglected, and we don’t have basic services and infrastructure such as [bomb] shelters. The two nights before the attack, we didn’t know what to do and where to go. We ran in and out of the house and sometimes we ran into the street to look for shelter but there was no shelter in the area. We didn’t know where to hide…. That night, we couldn’t sleep from the sound of the rockets. The barrage of rockets in the neighbourhood was so heavy and strong and, as always, we didn’t know where to hide ourselves. Many times in this situation, we don’t feel safe staying at home, so we escape outside but without knowing where to go exactly. … That night, Khalil and Nadine were terrified, the sound of the rockets falling were so close, so they decided to leave the house and seek protection outside at the entrance of the house. We live in a ground-floor home with only three steps at the entrance, so they decided to stand at the stairs and stick to the wall. They did that because we always hear that, in this kind of situation, it’s recommended to hide in the stairway, but we do not have a stairway. The only stairs we have are three steps at the entrance. But the rocket fell on the ground outside, next to the entrance where they stood, a few meters from them. It killed them immediately. It also caused huge damage to our house”.

Claims that residents of the village had requested protection prior to the strike were refuted by the Sdot Dan local council, according to Haaretz.

Mrs Awad told Human Rights Watch her husband was “a loving, giving, and modest man” who worked hard to provide for his family. She described her daughter as an outstanding student who dreamt of becoming a doctor. Following the incident the father and daughter were taken to Assaf Harofeh Hospital where they were pronounced dead, reported Almadar.

The Times of Israel described Hamas as being behind the attack.

Aswat reported that shrapnel from the strike caused severe damage to neighboring houses and injured ten heads of sheep. Images from the scene also showed extensive damage to several parked cars.

The incident occurred at approximately 03:00.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khalil Awad
52 years old male killed
Nadin Awad
16 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Cars destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by @AlmakdesyMedia)
  • Image of Nadin Awad, 16, who was killed when a rocket struck the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by @Eyad80412605)
  • A car that was struck and one of the victims of the shelling of the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by @galebsami)
  • Teddy bear belonging to Nadin Awad, 16, who was killed when a rocket struck the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by @ofirgendelman)
  • Rescue crews arrive to take the victims of the shelling of Lod on May 12th to a nearby hospital. (Image posted by Rashid Armosh)
  • Cars destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Palestine.Yaffa via Facebook)
  • Cars destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Palestine.Yaffa via Facebook)
  • Rescue crews arrive to take the victims of the shelling of Lod on May 12th to a nearby hospital. (Image posted by Palestine.Yaffa via Facebook)
  • Rescue crews arrive to take the victims of the shelling of Lod on May 12th to a nearby hospital. (Image posted by Palestine.Yaffa via Facebook)
  • Vehicle fire caused by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Palestine.Yaffa via Facebook)
  • Cars destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by MohamadNageAmara via Facebook)
  • Residents try to put out a vehicle fire caused by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Khatabnasar via Facebook)
  • The tombs of Khalil Awad and NAdine Awad, who were killed when a rocket struck the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Arab48
  • Image of Khalil Awad, 52, who was killed when a rocket struck the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Israel MFA)
  • Cars destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Haaretz)
  • A car destroyed by rocket strikes on the predominantly Arab village of Dahamash, south of Tel Aviv, in the early hours of May 12th, 2021 (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention house being struck in the village of Dahmash (دهمش‎) near the city of Lod (اللد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.943672, 34.849476. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (40) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS025

Incident date

May 15, 2021

Location

حولون, Holon, Israel

Geolocation

32.015779, 34.787218 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple sources, a 73 year old woman was injured whilst seeking shelter from incoming rockets, reportedly fired by by Palestinian militants into the Israeli city of Holon. The woman was reported to have died two days later from her injuries.

The victim was named by several sources as Hava Vaknin. She fell as a result of the panic caused by the warning siren, sustaining a brain injury and died two days later from her injuries, according to multiple sources.

The time of the incident was not reported by any sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hava Vaknin
73 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Hava Vaknin, 73, who was injured whilst running to a bomb shelter in Holon, and later died from her injuries (image via Eti Aseoo)
  • Hava Vaknin, 73, who was injured whilst running to a bomb shelter in Holon, and later died from her injuries (image via Forum Holon)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Holon (חולון), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.015779, 34.787218. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
  • position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    None known
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Suspected attacker

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS010

Incident date

May 11, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Israel

Geolocation

31.666667, 34.566667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One Israeli civilian was killed and as many as seven injured when alleged Hamas militants fired a rocket struck the city of Ashkelon southern Israel on the 11th May, 2021, according to local reports.

Nella Gurevitz (between 52 and 57 years old) was killed and her husband injured, when a rocket reportedly fired by Hamas struck their apartment according to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Israeli media outlet Ynet named Mrs Gurevitz husband as Gregory, and described his injuries as light.

BelarusFeed reported that Nella and her husband were from Belarus and “the mayor’s office also clarified that Nella Gurevich was 57 years old and that the couple immigrated to Israel in 1990. The journalist of the Israel Segodnya newspaper contacted the neighbours of the family, who said that the couple was always friendly with them, but led a rather secluded life, the spouses did not have children. They confirmed that the couple came to Israel from Belarus.”

“I know Nellie as a very sympathetic person, she always tried to support me and other people. We shared interests in music, we both once graduated from a music school. It was a shock for me to find out that she was dead, I will miss her,” said Nella’s friend Anna Litrovnik.

As many as five other people were lightly injured by shrapnel, according to Haaretz.

Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed they carried out the strikes that resulted in casualties, posting in their Telegram channel that “A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles” and a bit later “The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nella Gurevitz
52 years old female killed
Gregory
male Husband of Nella injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Nella Gurevitz (52) of Ashkelon, was killed in the Hamas rocket attack on Ashkelon May 11, 2021. She was in her apartment together with her husband when a rocket hit her building. (Image posted by Ynet)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city Ashkelon (عسقلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.666667, 34.566667. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants
  • Palestinian Militants position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    1
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants
Official source

12:46
A while ago, Al-Qassam Brigades bombarded occupied Ashkelon with a salvo of S40 missiles

12:58
The enemy admits that a building in Ashkelon was hit and several injuries occurred, including serious cases, as a result of the recent Qassamese bombing with Sejil missiles

13:14
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The occupation officially acknowledges the killing of 2 of its [settlers] as a result of the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

PALIS013

Incident date

May 12, 2021

Location

تل أبيب, Tel Aviv, Israel

Geolocation

32.066667, 34.783333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man in his 80’s collapsed during a rocket attack allegedly fired from Gaza in Tel Aviv on May 12th 2021, according to local reports. Reports are conflicted as to whether or not the man died as a result of the attack.

The Times of Israel reported that the man collapsed due to an apparent heart attack while making his way to a bomb shelter.

Anna Ahronheim, a journalist with Jerusalem Post, said the man died as a result of the incident, while Emanuel Fabian, an editor with the Times of Israel, said that medics who worked on the man informed him he was, “alive and breathing after resuscitation.”

No further information was provided as to the identity of the man.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Missiles being launched from Gaza to Israel (Image posted by @TRTArabi)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tel Aviv (תל אביב), for which the generic coordinates are:32.066667, 34.783333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (8) [ collapse]