The Israeli military has confirmed for the first time that its forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six members of her family in Gaza City in January 2024, prompting a criminal investigation into the incident.
Hind survived the initial attack that killed several members of her family but died days later. She remained trapped in the vehicle and spoke for hours with emergency workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, who were trying to reach her. An ambulance sent to rescue her was later attacked, killing two paramedics.
In a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, it said it had reviewed the incident and decided to open a criminal investigation into what it described as alleged failures in coordinating the movement of the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance.
“Due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance, it has been decided to initiate a criminal investigation of the incident by Military Police Criminal Investigation Division,” the IDF said.
The IDF had initially said that none of its troops were in the area when Hind and her family were killed. The claim was subsequently questioned.
The military later acknowledged that its forces had conducted operations in parts of Gaza City, including Tel al-Hawa, the neighbourhood where Hind was. It said its troops had carried out “raids on terror targets” in the area.
Hind and her family were attempting to flee the Israeli military offensive in their neighbourhood when their vehicle came under fire.
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After the attack, Hind managed to reach the Palestinian Red Crescent by telephone. In a recording that was later broadcast internationally, she could be heard pleading with emergency workers to rescue her.
The telephone call lasted for hours before it was cut off amid the sound of further gunfire. An ambulance dispatched by the Palestinian Red Crescent to locate and rescue her was subsequently shelled, killing two paramedics.
Hind’s death drew widespread international condemnation, with her case later cited by a United Nations commission of inquiry that accused Israel of war crimes. Israel denies allegations of war crimes.
The case has also been depicted in The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar-nominated film about the events surrounding her death.
The IDF said it would also investigate the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medics and a UN worker, who were killed near Rafah in southern Gaza last year.
However, the military said it found no grounds for criminal investigations in three other cases involving the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen employees in Deir al-Balah two years ago and four Médecins Sans Frontières employees killed in two separate incidents.
The IDF is under international pressure to demonstrate that it investigates allegations of misconduct by its forces, amid wider legal proceedings and accusations of war crimes and impunity.
The military’s investigations are also seen as part of Israel’s efforts to challenge potential international legal action, including proceedings involving the International Criminal Court.
BBC
