Israeli military admits for first time to firing on car carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab as it opens criminal probe

The Israeli military has admitted for the first time that it fired on the vehicle carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, opening a criminal investigation into her death. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) previously denied involvement, stating that preliminary investigations found their forces were not near the vehicle or within firing range.

This marks one of two high-profile incidents the military has opened criminal investigations into since the start of the war in October 2023. The military, however, will not probe three other attacks from the early months of the war, killing aid workers. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour criticized Israel's past investigations as "not independent and not credible," hoping the current investigation will result in the arrest of those responsible.

Hind Rajab was one of seven family members traveling in a vehicle in northern Gaza when they came under Israeli fire. She survived the initial fire and pleaded with Palestinian paramedics on the phone to come rescue her. An ambulance dispatched to save her also came under fire, and her body was found in a car riddled with bullets 12 days later.

The IDF stated that the firing during the incident raises a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct, calling it the military's first comprehensive report on alleged war crimes.