Israel and Gaza 2021

In the fourth major combat operation since 2008, Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fought a short but devastating conflict from May 10th to 20th 2021. Palestinian armed factions in Gaza fired more than 4,300 rockets at Israel, breaking through Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ defence systems and killing civilians in residential areas. Israeli forces bombarded Gaza with a large-scale aerial assault, levelling residential buildings and killing hundreds of civilians.

Airwars documented all allegations of civilian harm from both Palestinian militants and Israel Defense Forces, and produced a major report analysing the impact of explosive weapons use on civilians.

165 incidents
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Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

M21ISPT082

Location

شارع الوحدة, Al Wahda Street, Gaza, Palestinian territories
As many as 49 civilians, including up to 18 children, were killed in the deadliest single event of the May 2021 Israeli - Palestinian conflict, which has become informally known as the ‘Wahda Street Massacre’. Dozens more were injured - as many as 50, according to Sana News - in a series of Israeli airstrikes…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
44–49
Civilians reported injured
50–60
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Israeli Military
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Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

PALIS026

Location

عسقلان, אשקלון, Ashkelon, Southern, Israel
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…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Palestinian Militants
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Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

M21ISPT081

Location

قرب جسر وادي غزة, Vicinity of Wadi Gaza Bridge, Gaza, Palestinian territories
One civilian, a man, was killed and two others, women, were reportedly injured by IDF artillery fire that struck a house near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the Central Gaza Strip around 4 a.m. on the morning of Sunday 16th May 2021. Multiple sources, including Al Haq and Al Mezan, report multiple artillery shells being…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Israeli Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

M21ISPT083

Location

بشارع عوني ضهير, Awni Daheer Street, Rafah, Palestinian territories
Two civilians, one of whom was reportedly a freelance journalist, were severely injured in an alleged Israeli artillery strike on Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip during the early hours of May 16th 2021. Ra’ed Mohammed Abdel Wahab Sabbah, aged 46, and Alam al-Deen Abdel Rahman Mohammed Sabbah, aged 23, were reportedly injured by shrapnel…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Israeli Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

M21ISPT084

Location

قرب دوار القرم, Vicinity of Al Qarm roundabout, North Gaza, Palestinian territories
One man was reported killed and up to four others were reported injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike struck a group of people near the Qurum roundabout, East of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip in the early hours of 16 May. Al Qassam identified the man killed as being a member…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Israeli Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 May 2021

Incident Code

M21ISPT085

Location

الزيتون, Al Zeitoun, North Gaza, Palestinian territories
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…

Summary

Published
16 May 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1–4
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Israeli Military
View Incident