On July 9, 2024, at least 25 civilians were killed and at least 53 others injured in a declared Israeli airstrike on a camp of displaced persons near the gate of Al-Awda School in Abasan Al-Kabira, Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip.

On the evening of July 9, Al Jazeera published a video of “the first moments of the Israeli raid on the entrance to a school housing displaced people in Abasan, eastern Khan Younis.” In the clip, crowds of people are gathered to watch about ten young men play football on a cement pitch in the Al-Awda schoolyard. Suddenly a massive explosion takes place in the vicinity of the school and people – including the person filming – frantically begin running towards the site of the strike, screaming in horror throughout the duration of the clip. About a minute later, the sprinting camera person seems to reach the site of the Israeli strike, with dozens of dead and severely injured people scattered in the street.

On its official Telegram channel, the IDF acknowledged that it had conducted a strike in the vicinity of the Al-Awda School, saying that “earlier this evening, using precise munition, the IAF struck a terrorist from Hamas’ military wing who took part, among other terrorist activities, in the October 7th brutal massacre carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization in southern Israel. The IDF is looking into the reports that civilians were harmed, adjacent to the Al-Awda School in the south of Khan Yunis, which is located near the location of the strike. The incident is under review.” At the time of publishing, the IDF has not released the results of this investigation and no additional documentation showing Hamas’ activity within the school was found among local sources. Airwars will update this assessment if more information emerges.

CNN later identified a munition remnant from the site as an American-made GBU-39 air-delivered bomb, a common munition used by the Israeli military in Gaza. With CNN’s permission, an image of the munition remnant was added to the Airwars’-led Open Source Munitions Portal.

Journalist Abas al-Sharif reported that according to government sources, there were “at least 25 martyrs and dozens wounded in a horrific massacre committed by the [Israeli military] in the vicinity of Al-Awda School.” Al-Sharif shared a video of dozens of injured and deceased people at a hospital, with the number of casualties clearly exceeding the facility and medical staff’s capacity. NBC News also reported “at least 25 people were killed and dozens more wounded.” Later that night, Al Jazeera reported “the death toll from the Israeli bombing of the gate of a school sheltering displaced people in Abasan, Khan Younis, rises to 29” while CNN put the death toll at 27 and identified 53 injured. Quoting Gaza hospital officials, the BBC also reported that 29 people were killed. In a broadcast by Alaraby News, the “Director of Supply in Civil Defense told Al Arabiya TV that the number of martyrs in the targeting of Al Awda School in Abasan has risen to 30 martyrs and more than 70 wounded.”

Twitter/X users @tamerqdh and @simosima657291 shared a video of dozens of dead and wounded following the Israeli strike and wrote “I always report on massacres inside shelter schools, but this time is completely different, more difficult and more hideous. I know that school well; I spent my studies here, and I know these features in the difficult scenes that I never had the courage to complete. I can’t stop watching despite the cruelty of the scene, hoping I’ll recognize someone from my relatives. Features of people I knew from near or far, some of whom I exchanged conversations with. The scenes become more difficult when mixed with memories.” Facebook users such as Fady Jad Lafy and Lara Mwajda shared photos of the casualties, including men with severe injuries and a girl with a stunned expression, her clothing covered in blood. Mohammed Abo Hajer posted two horrific photos of “collected remains of people in boxes and a bucket of blood.” Mazen N Breem shared photos of pools of blood on a hospital floor as emergency workers treat casualties following “the massacre of Al-Mutanabbi School in the Al-Awda Schools Complex east of Khan Younis a short while ago.”

On social media, numerous loved ones expressed their grief following the Israeli strike.

Ismail Abo Al Majd announced that “my nephew, Muhammad Suleiman Abu Anza [age 36], was martyred as a result of the Israeli air force targeting Al-Awda School in Abasan Al-Sharqiya.”

Abdalla Abudaqqa mourned the “martyrdom of cousins ​​Bilal Suleiman Abu Daqqa [age 39], Muhammad Khalil Abu Daqqa (Abu Wasfiya) [age unavailable], Mahmoud Khalil Abu Daqqa [age unavailable], Ayman Muhammad Abu Daqqa [age unavailable], Basil Raed Abu Daqqa [age 17], Ahmad Rami Abu Daqqa [age 14], Muhammad Akram Abu Daqqa [age 33], Baraa Akram Abu Daqqa [age 12]” calling them “beloved ones.” The Facebook user also shared charming photos of some of their relatives who were killed. Attia Al-Raqab offered “our sincere condolences to my friends and loved ones, the Abu Daqqa family, on the martyrdom of Muhammad Abu Daqqa and his brother Baraa Abu Daqqa. May God grant you Paradise. May God give you patience, Uncle Akram Abu Daqqa.”

Fares [Abu] Jamea, Monadel [Abu] Mohammed, and Bassam [Abu] Jamea mourned “the rise of the moons (martyrs) of the family sons, Wassim Riyad Abu Jamea [age 28], Wahid Youssef Abu Jamea [age 43], and Saqr Mahmoud Abu Jamea (Abu Al-Ash) [age unknown], in the targeting of the Al-Awda School to join the constellation of the moons of the East” and shared photos of the three men.

Facebook user Al Shafi Tareq Abo Ishaq posted a photo of Wahid and mourned his “death…in the #AlAwda_Massacre.” Al-Sharqia Shamel grieved “the ascension (death) of the young man Wahid Yousef Abu Jamea in the massacre of the Al-Awda School for the Displaced.” Nabd Al-Sharqia announced the “moon rise (death) of Wahid Yousef Abu Jamea in the #Al-Awda_Massacre to join the constellation of Eastern Moons.”

Mosa Samaraa mourned Wassim Riyad Abu Jamea, sharing a smiling photo of the young man and writing “The separation of loved ones and dear ones continues…The sadness of the heart and the pain of farewell continue. Today we bid farewell to our dear friend and beloved Wassim Abu Jamea” and Diaa Raida grieved the loss of “my friend, brother, and beloved Wassim Abu Jamea.” Mohammad Rdwan shared a charming selfie of himself and Wassim and mourned his friend, writing that “the void of the departed is only filled by the tears of memory and the echo of the laughter we shared together, which feeds on the walls of the cracked heart, which yearns and throbs to meet them, even if it is a dream.” In another post, Mohammad shared a number of photos of himself and Wassim.

Èmãń Šhãfiq shared another smiling photo of Wassim and wrote a heartbreaking tribute to Wassim: “I’m shocked. I feel like I’m dreaming. I still can’t comprehend. Two days ago, we were sitting and talking about the memories of displacement and we were looking at videos and pictures. How when Amir was born, you told me, “I wasn’t happy about Amir. [He was] born here and we went to the checkpoint. I wanted to be happy and take pictures of him in the first hours after he was born, but he’s growing up. For you to see him, Iman. How sweet and how precious he is. Now he’s 5 months and 10 days old. According to Amir, he grows up every day. Look at Amir’s picture. The older he gets, the more his features resemble me. I say, “By God, we miss Fadi.” By God, he’ll turn out to be good. You know what will happen to us. By God, he made it easy for us and didn’t make us feel Fadi’s absence. By God, the last words to him, “I want to go.” I miss Amir. Now I find that Amir will miss you, Wassim. By God, his last words won’t leave my mind and he’s changed his ringtone. And he put the song “My brother, the eyes will cry for you” I bid farewell in a strange way. By God, you were the best relative, brother and friend. By God, you are very dear to us, Wassim. If only you knew how special your place is in all of our hearts.” Others including Hussam Abo Barka, Mohammed Shahin, Ikhlas Asaad, Sharqia Shamel, Murad Waleed posted photos and reflections in honor of Wassim as well.

Facebook user Ahmad Omar posted photos of Wassim and Muhammad Kamal Khalil Al-Breim (likely age 23 but only a partial match on the MoH list as the name on the list is Muhammad Kamal Ibrahim Al-Breim) and prayed “my God have mercy on you, my love. my friend Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim [and] my friend Wassim Abu Jamea. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” In another heartbreaking post, Kabira Abasan shared a screenshot from Wassim’s instagram in which he mourned the recent passing of Muhammad in a story posted shortly before his own death, saying “a martyr mourns a martyr. The moon (deceased), Wassim Abu Deeb, mourn[ed] his friend, the moon (martyr), Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim, hours before his [own] martyrdom.“

Omar Assi posted a smiling photo of himself with Muhammad and Saktafi bek expressed sadness over “the martyrdom of my brother, the love of my heart, and my friend, Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim.” Yaser Al Najjar shared a photo of Muhammad in formal attire and grieved “the martyrdom of my beloved, my friend and my companion, the martyr Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim…may God give me patience to bear your loss, my beloved.” Abood Alda mourned “the ascent of the beautiful, elegant moon (martyr), my friend Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim” as well. Posting a photo of Muhammad and another smiling young man, Mohammed Sabri [Al-Breim] wrote about “the Ascension of the Beloved: Muhammad Kamal Al-Breim, whom my son Sabry loved and called “Bannou.”

Noor Abo Asi shared charming photos of Muhammad Al-Breim and Omar Hassan Abu Abed (age 25) to honor “the passing of my friend[s]…May God have mercy on you, my dear ones.”

Mourning the loss of Khaled Maqbool Abu Deeb (age 30), Malak Saleem Al-batta asked “How did you leave and how did you go? Khaled Abu Deeb?” Nabd Al Sharqia shared a charming photo of the young man and announced the “moon rise (martyrdom) of Khaled Maqbool Abu Deeb in the #Al-Awda_Massacre to join the constellation of Eastern Moons.”

Mohammed Abo Jehad mourned the death of his cousin Yasser Asfour (age unknown), writing that “God is witness that you were one of the kindest and most well-mannered people, who never harmed anyone throughout his life. He loved people and people loved him. The mosque man joins his son Badr, his daughter and his father to join the ranks of the martyrs after a brutal and treacherous bombing in the vicinity of Al-Awda School.” Anas Sami grieved the death of “the beloved, well-mannered, of good reputation, of kind heart. Abu Shawqi Yasser Asfour, a martyr to join his son, the hero, the mujahid Badr Yasser Asfour, and his daughter. Say hello to Badr. May God accept you.” Asfour Mohammed shared a charming photo of Yasser and expressed sadness over “the martyrdom of my cousin, the martyr Yasser Asfour, to join his martyr son Badr and his daughter Israa, who were martyred several months ago.”

Janna Habib announced “with hearts that believe in God’s will and destiny, the martyrdom of my grandmother Rahma Abu Anza (Umm Habib) [age unknown].” Al jadid lajlekm shared a photo of older woman wearing a white hijab and announced “the ascension (death) of Hajjah Rahma Abu Anza (Umm Habib) in #Al-Awda_School to join the new Abasan constellation.”

Mohammed Abo Mostafa shared a charming portrait of Abdul Rahman Shahada Abu Mustafa (Abu Al-Anas, age 19), saying that “our consolation is that this is a world that we are bidding farewell to, and everyone who walks on earth will depart… The ascension of my brother Abdul Rahman Abu Al-Anas as a martyr, God willing, to join the martyrs of my family, my martyred son Hamza and my martyred wife Umm Hamza.”

Hares Z Raqab posted a photo of himself with Abdul Karim Abu Abed (age 24) and offered a “prayer for the recovery of my friend.” Unfortunately Abdul Karim did not survive the strike, and on July 12, Hares announced the “martyrdom of my dear friend…The eye sheds tears and the heart grieves, and we are truly saddened by your departure.” Ashraf Tayseer Abo qwider posted smiling photos of Abdul Karim and mourned “the ascension of the moon (martyr) and friend, Abdul Karim Abu Abed.”

Lists provided by Mohamed Awad and Al Sahfi Tareq Abo Ishaq included the names Layan Omar Asfour (age unknown), Mohamed Sami Khalil Abu Abed (age 28), Osama Hatem Shaheen (age 16), Bashar Wael Radwan (age 16), and Baraa Nidal Abu Alian (age 15) as among those killed.

Images posted by Fady Jad Lafy show at least an injured man being brought into the hospital on a stretcher while an injured woman covered in blood walks from an ambulance to the hospital. Additional images posted by Mazen N Breem show another man being treated for a head injury on the floor of an overcrowded medical facility with blood all over the floor. A third man is being carried into the hospital in an image from Masdar Al Ikhbaria.

Where possible, names have been reconciled with published Palestinian Ministry of Health lists of names of the victims.

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