One civilian was killed and one other was injured in an alleged Israeli drone strike on the morning of July 15, 2024 in Beit Lahia, Northern Gaza.

The civilian confirmed to have been killed in the strike was a young man, 25-year-old Mustafa Saeb Banat. His grandfather was injured in the same strike.

Safa News reported that the incident happened north of Beit Lahia on the morning of July 15 and that a missile from a drone was the cause of the incident. Other social media posts, including from journalist Mohamed Awad identified the missile as a reconnaissance missile.

Several posts on social media shared the same photo of Banat from before his death, where he is pictured standing next to a wall with his arms wide open, wearing a bright red jacket and jeans. According to these posts, Banat’s father had been killed in the earlier days of the war.

Banat was remembered by family members, including his sister Marim Banat, who wrote on Facebook: “Everything is gone, no one is left to take the loved ones.” His cousin, Belal Amar, wrote that Banat was “taken to the gardens of bliss.” According to Banat’s Facebook page, he lived in Gaza City and was a supporter of Fatah, with his cover image encouraging people to vote for the political party.

Based on reporting that attributed the strike to a missile dropped from a drone and the use of “targeted” when describing the attack, this incident has been graded as likely the result of Israeli action.

Mustafa’s name was found with his corresponding ID in the Ministry of Health list of names released in September 2024.