A 5-year-old boy killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip had told his mother that “tanks are next to us” moments before he was shot, according to an investigation by the Israeli military. The boy, identified as Laith Rajab, was shot and killed on January 21 in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis. The military said on Wednesday that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Laith’s death found that forces had opened fire on a vehicle that had been driving “erratically” and “aggressively” toward them. The probe found that moments before he was killed, Laith had told his mother that “tanks are next to us,” and that she had replied, “Where? I don’t see them.” The military said that after Laith was shot, forces had found a “suspicious vehicle” nearby and that “it was assessed that the vehicle posed a threat.” The military said that “appropriate recommendations” had been made following the investigation. Laith’s family has disputed the military’s account of the incident. His mother, Ahlam Rajab, told Al Jazeera that her son had been killed by Israeli forces while he was on his way to buy meat for a family barbecue. She said that they had been driving in a civilian vehicle with a white flag and that there had been no attempt to attack Israeli forces. The Israeli military said that it regrets “any harm caused to non-combatants” but that it would not be launching a criminal investigation into Laith’s death. The military said that it operates “in accordance with the laws of war and with great sensitivity toward non-combatants.” The killing of Laith has sparked widespread outrage across the Palestinian territories. Gaza’s health ministry said that a total of 28 people, including 23 children, have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2022. The Israeli military has stepped up its attacks on the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, amid a surge in tensions along the border. The escalation in violence has raised fears of another full-scale war in the territory. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2007.
In the Gaza Strip on January 29, 2024, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl named Rafiq was trapped inside her uncle's car after it was hit by Israeli gunfire during a military operation. The girl, Rafiq, called for help over the phone, begging rescuers to save her. When help finally arrived three hours later, two emergency responders were killed, and Rafiq's body was discovered among the deceased several days later.
This incident, dubbed "Rafiq's Voice," was later turned into a film that received a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The incident drew international attention to Israeli military atrocities in Gaza. Initially, Israel denied that its troops had shot at Rafiq's car, but later admitted to firing at the vehicle while it was moving.
The Israeli military claimed they were targeting a suspected terrorist target, but video footage showed that the vehicle had its emergency lights on. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict later accused Israel of war crimes and referred the case to the International Criminal Court. A Palestinian human rights group, "Hind Rafiq Foundation," criticized the investigation, stating that it would not lead to justice for the victims.
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