Israeli Military Opens Criminal Probes into Two Gaza Incidents Involving Children and Paramedics
The Israel Defense Forces announced criminal investigations into the February 2024 killing of a five-year-old girl and her family, and the March 2025 shooting of 15 Palestinian paramedics, while declining probes into other aid-worker deaths.
Israel's military said on Wednesday it will conduct criminal investigations into two separate incidents in Gaza that drew international criticism. The probes will examine the February 2024 shooting that killed five-year-old Hind Rajab, her relatives and two ambulance medics, and the March 2025 attack that killed 15 paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent and Gaza Civil Defense.
The army confirmed it fired at the vehicle carrying Hind Rajab and her family as they fled an Israeli incursion in Gaza City, and later fired at an ambulance that had arrived to assist them, resulting in the deaths of the two medics. In the later incident, troops opened fire on an ambulance and other emergency vehicles in Rafah, then bulldozed the wreckage into a mass grave.
The investigations come after the military completed reviews of 150 conduct cases and decided to pursue criminal action in five. It declined to open criminal probes into three other attacks that killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, stating that the commanders' decisions did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct.
Family members of Hind Rajab and representatives of the Palestinian Red Crescent have called for international investigations, saying the military inquiries are insufficient. "An international investigation is required to uncover the truth and hold all those responsible accountable," her grandmother said. The Red Crescent spokesperson added that Israeli measures are not enough and emphasized the need for compliance with international humanitarian law.
World Central Kitchen disputed the military's account of its April 2024 convoy strike, describing the explanation as inaccurate and urging an independent investigation. Australia's foreign minister expressed outrage at the limited disciplinary actions taken in that case.
If the probes find sufficient evidence, military prosecutors may bring charges, though past data show that indictments and convictions of Israeli soldiers for conduct in Gaza are rare.