Israel admits firing on car carrying Hind Rajab, symbol of Gaza’s suffering

What the report says

Israel’s military says it has opened a criminal investigation into the 2024 killing of Hind Rajab, the five-year-old girl whose death became a widely known symbol of the suffering of children in Gaza. Al Jazeera reported that the announcement came more than two years after Rajab was killed while trapped in a car with relatives after her family had been displaced from Gaza City.

According to the article, the military said the inquiry followed a review of the case and concerns about coordination involving a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance. It also acknowledged, for the first time, that troops had fired on a vehicle that was approaching them. Previously, Israeli officials had denied that soldiers were in the area, and later said they had been targeting “terror targets” in Gaza City.

Rajab died on January 29, 2024, after rescue efforts by Palestinian Red Crescent workers and paramedics were blocked or interrupted, the report said. The incident drew global attention because of audio widely shared online of Rajab’s pleas for help. Al Jazeera also noted that its own 2024 investigation suggested an Israeli tank was very close to the car and likely had a clear view of the civilians inside.

The report said Rajab’s grandmother called for an international investigation, arguing that the Israeli military probe would not be enough. Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent said many people in the territory remain doubtful that the new inquiry will lead to accountability.