Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

PALIS026

Incident date

May 16, 2021

Location

عسقلان, Ashkelon, Southern, Israel

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Rockets fired by Palestinian militants into the Israeli city of Ashkelon caused damage to a number of buildings and cars, physically injuring three civilians including an eight month old child.

Multiple reports state that all those physically injured sustained their injuries whilst seeking shelter from the rockets. This included an eight month old child who sustained minor injuries when their mother fell whilst rushing to a bomb shelter, a 75 year old male who sustained a fracture to his hand and a 71 year old victim. All three were treated at Barzilai Hospital, where several reports state that two civilians aged 19 and 26 were also treated for anxiety in relation to the rocket attack.

Al Qassam claimed responsibility for the attack, publishing in their Telegram channel that “a number of buildings were damaged and a vehicle caught fire after the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba”.

One source claims that a rocket directly penetrated a Synagogue and went through to the Rabbi’s apartment next door. Another source claimed that a rocket hit the roof of a house whilst the occupants, two children and their father, were inside but in their safe room and unharmed.

Two sources report that the incident occurred around midday.

The incident occured around midday.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן), 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • 'Synagogue in Ashkelon took at direct hit. The rocket went through the rabbi’s apartment next door.'
  • A soldier from the Israeli Home Front Command descends into a damaged drain next to a car destroyed by Palestinian rockets fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @qudsn)
  • A soldier from the Israeli Home Front Command descends into a damaged drain next to a car destroyed by Palestinian rockets fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @qudsn)
  • Two soldiers from the Israeli Home Front Command look at a damaged drain and car destroyed by Palestinian rockets fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @qudsn)
  • A car destroyed by Palestinian rockets fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @qudsn)
  • 'The effects of the rockets of the #Palestinian_resistance that targeted sites in #Ashkelon #Palestine #Jerusalem #Al-Aqsa Mosque #Gaza Under Bombardment #Sheikh_Jarrah Neighborhood #Palestine_Rising Up #Jerusalem_Rising Up #GazaUnderAttack #PalestineUnderAttack #GenocideinGaza'
  • The damage to a house directly hit by one of the Palestinian rockets fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @haynesdeborah)
  • The damage to the roof of a Synagogue that was directly hit by a Palestinian Rocket fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via @TreyYingst)
  • Damage to the inside of a Synagogue hit by a Palestinian rocket fired into Ashkelon on May 16 2021 (image via Ashkelonim)

Palestinian Militants Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Palestinian Militants

16 May, 2021
14:03
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Qassam Brigades are now launching large rocket salvoes to the areas of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheba, Sderot, the Ra’im base, and the 8200 wiretapping base, in response to the heinous massacre against children, women and civilians in Gaza City, and the attack on Sheikh Jarrah’s people and their sympathizers

14:29
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The enemy admits that a number of buildings were damaged and a vehicle caught fire after the recent Qassam bombing of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known belligerent
    Palestinian Militants

Sources (10) [ collapse]