An examination of the names of the fatalities in the IDF airstrikes during the first two days of Operation Guardian of the Walls reveals that most of them were terrorist operatives

Left: Saber Suleiman's funeral. Hamas’s green flag can be seen covering his body (Anatolia News Agency, May 11, 2021).

Saber Suleiman's funeral. Hamas’s green flag can be seen covering his body (Anatolia News Agency, May 11, 2021).

His funeral. His body was wrapped in the Hamas flag (Sawah Press, May 13, 2021)

His funeral. His body was wrapped in the Hamas flag (Sawah Press, May 13, 2021)

Poster published by the PIJ’s military wing, showing photos of the three dead operatives wearing PIJ uniforms (Saraya al-Quds website, May 11, 2021)

Poster published by the PIJ’s military wing, showing photos of the three dead operatives wearing PIJ uniforms (Saraya al-Quds website, May 11, 2021)

The fatalities in the Al-Omari Mosque in Gaza: 11 of the 13 bodies are covered with Hamas flags, including Wael Issa (Filastin al-Yawm, May 13, 2021).

The fatalities in the Al-Omari Mosque in Gaza: 11 of the 13 bodies are covered with Hamas flags, including Wael Issa (Filastin al-Yawm, May 13, 2021).

Abd al-Rahman Asbita wrapped in a Hamas flag (Filastin Al-Yawm, May 13, 2021).

Abd al-Rahman Asbita wrapped in a Hamas flag (Filastin Al-Yawm, May 13, 2021).

Mahmoud Kalusa at his funeral, covered with a Hamas flag (Facebook account of the Shehab news agency, May 12, 2021)

Mahmoud Kalusa at his funeral, covered with a Hamas flag (Facebook account of the Shehab news agency, May 12, 2021)

Overview

The following is a preliminary summary of the findings of the examination of the names of the Palestinians who were killed in IDF airstrikes in the Gaza Strip during the first two days (May 10-12, 2021 at 12:00) of Operation Guardian of the Walls. The ITIC examined 74 names of fatalities reported by Palestinian sources. Sixteen of them were killed during an unsuccessful launch of rockets at Israel. It is evident from the examination that of the 58 remaining fatalities, at least 42 (about two-thirds) were terrorist operatives, according to the following distribution: 31 Hamas operatives, 3 PIJ operatives, and 8 Fatah members.

  • As in previous operations and this time even more, entities in the Gaza Strip (the Health Ministry and the terrorist organizations) hardly publicize the deaths of terrorist operatives. This, with the exception of senior operatives and officials, in which case the organizations they belong to published official death notices. The Hamas administration is trying to create a false impression that the vast majority of those killed were uninvolved civilians. In its announcements, the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip emphasizes the number of women, children and seniors killed and, unlike in the past, it does not publish detailed lists that include the names of those killed. Many of the dead terrorist operatives are also presented on social media and by Arab media outlets as “civilians” for the same reason.
Funeral of those killed in IDF airstrikes in the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza. The bodies of the dead were wrapped in white shrouds and not in Palestinian flags or the flags of the organizations to which they belonged (PALINFO's Twitter account, May 17, 2021)
Funeral of those killed in IDF airstrikes in the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza. The bodies of the dead were wrapped in white shrouds and not in Palestinian flags or the flags of the organizations to which they belonged (PALINFO’s Twitter account, May 17, 2021)