Hind Rajab's Mother Demands Independent Inquiry into Daughter's Killing by Israeli Forces

The mother of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza City, is demanding an independent investigation into her daughter's death, deeming Israel's recently announced military inquiry inadequate. Wesam Hamada expressed her anguish, haunted by her daughter's final pleas for help, fear, and hunger captured in a January 2024 phone call.

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All I remember is her voice pleading, ‘Mama, I’m scared. Mama, I’m hungry. Mama, I’m hurt.’ Her voice keeps repeating in my ears.

Hind's case gained international attention after recordings of her calls for help, along with those of her 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamada, were released by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The story was further amplified by the Oscar-nominated film "The Voice of Hind Rajab." The recordings captured gunfire erupting around the girls as Layan was killed, followed by Hind's terrified calls before the line went dead.

Israel's military admitted to firing on the family's car as it fled an invasion and later targeting an ambulance dispatched to rescue them, resulting in the deaths of all six people in the car and two paramedics. The military announced it would launch a criminal investigation into its troops' conduct.

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Why did the investigation and the acknowledgment of the shooting at Hind’s car and at the paramedics come only after more than two years? It’s an attempt to distract from what’s happening in Gaza and improve the (Israeli) army’s image to the world. That’s it.

However, both Hind's family and emergency responders question the credibility of an Israeli investigation, particularly given the two-year delay in acknowledging the incident. Hamada stated, "It's an attempt to distract from what's happening in Gaza and improve the (Israeli) army's image to the world." A UN commission and research group previously found evidence placing Israeli forces near the car at the time of the attack. Rana Al-Faqih, a dispatcher who remained on the line with Hind for over three hours, emphasized that an impartial investigation is crucial for justice for the victims' families.

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An impartial investigation is the only way to deliver justice to Hind's family and the families of emergency workers.