Israel Confirms Military Fire Hit Vehicle Carrying Gaza Child Hind Rajab

The Israeli military said it opened fire on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six relatives in Gaza City during the ongoing conflict. The child survived the initial strike in January 2024 but was later found dead along with family members.

After the attack, Hind answered a call from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society that lasted several hours. An ambulance dispatched in coordination with the Israeli army was subsequently shelled, killing two paramedics.

The Israel Defense Forces announced a criminal investigation by its Military Police Criminal Investigation Division, citing alleged failures in coordinating the Red Crescent ambulance’s movement.

Initially, the IDF claimed no troops were present in the area at the time of the killing, a statement later questioned as the force confirmed operations in nearby Gaza City neighborhoods, including Tel al-Hawa.

The incident drew international condemnation after recordings of Hind speaking to paramedics were circulated worldwide. The United Nations cited the case in a commission of inquiry, accusing Israel of war crimes, a charge Israel denies.

In addition to this case, the IDF said it would investigate the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medics and a UN worker near Rafah, while noting that investigations into other incidents involving humanitarian workers had not yielded grounds for criminal charges.