For the first time, the Israeli military has admitted that its soldiers fired on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, resulting in her death alongside six family members in Gaza in 2024.
This disclosure arrives over two years after the event, prompted by international scrutiny regarding the circumstances of the child’s death.
Hind initially survived the attack and managed to call emergency services while trapped inside the damaged vehicle. Throughout the call, she urgently requested assistance, indicating the presence of Israeli military forces nearby.
An ambulance was sent after coordination with Israeli authorities. Unfortunately, it came under fire, killing two Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics on their way to help.
Hind and her relatives’ bodies were discovered several days later.
The Israel Defense Forces have announced a criminal investigation into the events leading to Hind’s death and the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medical workers and a UN employee, in a different incident in March 2025.
Their latest review confirmed that Israeli troops fired at Hind’s vehicle.
The IDF stated the decision to investigate stems from alleged failures in coordinating the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance.
The military also claimed the vehicle was traveling against previously issued guidance for residents in the area.
This recent admission contrasts with the IDF’s initial account of the incident.
Initially, the Israeli military asserted that its forces were not present when Hind was killed. However, that statement was later questioned as more details of the shooting emerged.
Subsequently, the IDF admitted its forces had been conducting operations targeting militants in Gaza City, including in Tel al-Hawa where Hind was.
Hind’s phone call with Palestinian Red Crescent operators highlighted the humanitarian impact of the Gaza conflict and spread widely.
During the call, she told operators about Israeli tanks near her vehicle and repeatedly asked for rescue.
Red Crescent operator Rana Faqih stayed on the line with Hind for hours as permission was sought for ambulance access. Faqih later recounted Hind’s increasing fear as nightfall drew near.
Although clearance was eventually obtained to send an ambulance, rescuers were killed before reaching Hind.
The Israeli military’s decision to investigate is likely to bring renewed focus on Hind Rajab’s death and broader concerns about civilian safety during military actions in Gaza.
