The Israeli military has confirmed that its forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six family members in Gaza City during January 2024. While the child initially survived the attack, she and her relatives were later found dead. An ambulance dispatched by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to rescue her was also shelled, resulting in the deaths of two paramedics.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it is launching a criminal investigation into the incident, citing alleged failures in coordinating the ambulance's movement. This admission follows previous claims by the military that no troops were present in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood at the time of the attack. The IDF stated that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division will now lead the inquiry.
This case gained international attention after audio recordings of the child's desperate pleas for help were broadcast globally. The IDF is currently facing mounting pressure to demonstrate accountability regarding civilian deaths to counter allegations of war crimes. Additionally, the military is reviewing other incidents involving the deaths of aid workers and medical personnel, though it has declined to pursue criminal investigations in several of those cases.
