DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Director slams Israel's probe into 5-year-old's death as diversion

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A film director has condemned Israel's decision to open a criminal investigation into the death of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab.
  • The director called the investigation a diversion, stating that evidence of the girl's death has been available for over two years.
  • Israel's military acknowledged troops fired at the car carrying Hind and her family in January 2024, leading to her death after a three-hour call with the Red Crescent.

Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania has sharply criticized the Israeli military's decision to launch a criminal investigation into the death of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza. Ben Hania, director of the docudrama "The Voice of Hind Rajab," labeled the announcement a "diversionary tactic."

"For more than two years, the evidence has been there: independent investigations, satellite imagery, ballistics analysis. And there is the most devastating evidence of all: Hind's own voice, describing Israeli tanks circling around her. What we need is justice," Ben Hania stated, as reported by Variety.

The announcement is a diversionary tactic. For more than two years, the evidence has been there: independent investigations, satellite imagery, ballistics analysis. And there is the most devastating evidence of all: Hind's own voice, describing Israeli tanks circling around her. What we need is justice.

— Kaouther Ben HaniaThe director of 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' criticizes Israel's decision to investigate the death of Hind Rajab.

The Israeli military confirmed on August 19, 2026, that its forces fired on the vehicle carrying Hind and six relatives in Gaza in January 2024. Hind died after a prolonged call with the Palestinian Red Crescent, during which she pleaded for rescue. An ambulance dispatched to save her was also attacked by Israeli forces, killing two medics.

After reviewing the existing findings and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance movement, it was decided to initiate a criminal investigation into the incident by the military police's criminal investigation division.

— Israeli militaryStatement explaining the decision to launch a criminal investigation into the death of Hind Rajab.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have previously denied involvement, claiming their troops were not present, media investigations have indicated Israeli tanks in the vicinity were responsible. The military stated the criminal investigation was initiated after reviewing findings and identifying alleged failures in coordinating the ambulance's movement.

Ben Hania questioned the necessity of waiting for the accused to investigate themselves, especially when evidence has been available for years. "Do we really have to wait for the accused to decide to investigate themselves (yes, themselves!) until these facts are finally taken seriously?" she asked.

Do we really have to wait for the accused to decide to investigate themselves (yes, themselves!) until these facts are finally taken seriously?

— Kaouther Ben HaniaThe filmmaker questions the timing and legitimacy of Israel's criminal investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog