Israel confirms soldiers fired at car in which Hind Rajab was killed and opens criminal investigation

The Israeli military has confirmed soldiers fired on a car carrying five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, killing her along with six relatives in Gaza in 2024. Initially, Rajab survived the attack and pleaded for help on a lengthy phone call. An ambulance, coordinated with Israeli forces, was then shelled, killing two paramedics.

Hind's body was recovered days later. The IDF stated it would open a criminal investigation into the killings, as well as those of 15 Palestinians, including medics and a UN worker, in March 2025. The IDF claimed Hind's death resulted from coordination failures, but later admitted its troops fired at a vehicle traveling against published IDF notices.

The incident drew international condemnation, with the Red Crescent describing it as a deliberate attack. The UN also accused Israel of war crimes, which Israel denies.