Israel's Gaza war probes are far too little, far too late

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has officially acknowledged firing upon a vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six family members in Gaza City during the ongoing conflict. The Palestinian child initially survived the attack in January 2024, but her body was recovered days later alongside her relatives. Following the incident, Hind was able to communicate with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society via a phone call that lasted several hours.

An ambulance dispatched by the society, coordinated with the Israeli army, subsequently came under fire, resulting in the deaths of two paramedics. In response to the incident, the IDF announced that it would initiate a criminal investigation, citing alleged failures in the coordination of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance's movement.

Initially, the IDF claimed no troops were present in the area at the time of Hind's death, but it later disclosed that it had conducted raids on terror targets, including neighborhoods in Gaza City like Tel al-Hawa, where Hind was located. Hind's case garnered international condemnation after a distressing recording of her speaking to paramedics was widely broadcasted.

The story was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film titled "The Voice of Hind Rajab." The UN included her case in a commission of inquiry, accusing Israel of war crimes, which Israel denies. The IDF also announced it would investigate the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medical personnel and a UN worker near Rafah in southern Gaza last year, as well as three other incidents involving the deaths of World Central Kitchen employees and Médecins Sans Frontières workers.

The IDF is under pressure to demonstrate its internal investigations to avoid international legal action, particularly from the International Criminal Court, as it seeks to refute allegations of war crimes and impunity for its forces.