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Hind Rajab Gaza case (Img: Google)
New Delhi: The Israeli military has acknowledged for the first time that its forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed along with six members of her family in Gaza in 2024.
The incident gained global attention after Hind survived the initial attack and made a desperate phone call seeking help. During the emotional conversation, she repeatedly pleaded with rescuers to come and save her while remaining trapped inside the damaged vehicle.
An ambulance sent to rescue her, after coordination efforts with Israeli authorities, was later attacked, killing two paramedics who were on their way to reach the child. Hind’s body was recovered days later along with the bodies of her relatives.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would launch a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hind Rajab, her family members, and the two Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics.
The military said its review found that IDF troops had fired at the vehicle, which it claimed was travelling in an area where movement restrictions had been announced.
The IDF stated that an investigation was ordered after concerns emerged regarding possible failures in the coordination process involving the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance.
Initially, the Israeli military had said that none of its forces were operating in the area at the time of Hind’s death. However, that claim was later challenged, and the IDF acknowledged that troops had been conducting operations in parts of Gaza City, including the Tel al-Hawa area where the incident occurred.
Hind’s final phone call with Palestinian Red Crescent operators became widely known after recordings were released. During the call, she reportedly described seeing Israeli tanks near the vehicle and asked rescuers for help.
A Red Crescent operator remained connected with Hind for several hours as efforts were made to secure permission for an ambulance to reach her location.
After several hours, an ambulance team was allowed to move toward Hind’s location. Paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun were dispatched for the rescue mission.
However, communication with both the ambulance crew and Hind was lost. The Palestinian Red Crescent later said the two paramedics were killed when their ambulance was attacked.
The case triggered international criticism and was later highlighted by United Nations investigators and human rights organizations.
The tragedy inspired the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which received international recognition and was nominated for an Oscar.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, a Brussels-based organization that campaigns over alleged violations in Gaza, criticized the IDF investigation and questioned its credibility, saying internal investigations cannot replace independent accountability mechanisms.
Apart from the Hind Rajab case, the IDF also announced an investigation into the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medical workers and a UN employee, killed during an incident in Rafah in March 2025.
The military said its review found a possible suspicion of criminal misconduct after an earlier explanation regarding the incident was challenged by video evidence showing emergency lights were being used.
The investigation comes as Israel faces growing international pressure over alleged violations during its military campaign in Gaza. The IDF has said it investigates exceptional incidents to comply with international law and Israeli regulations.
Human rights groups, however, have repeatedly criticized Israel’s internal military investigations, claiming they rarely result in serious prosecutions.
The Gaza war began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza have reported tens of thousands of deaths during Israel’s military campaign, while Israel disputes some figures and says it targets Hamas infrastructure.
