IDF admits firing on car carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab, launching criminal probe

The Israeli military has officially acknowledged for the first time that its forces fired on a vehicle carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her relatives, an incident that resulted in their deaths. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on August 19th that it is launching a criminal investigation into the January 2024 event, which occurred as the family attempted to flee an area of conflict in Gaza.

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There are tanks next to me. They are moving.

Rajab, trapped in a car with the bodies of her deceased relatives, had desperately called the Palestinian Red Crescent for help, her voice trembling with fear. A Red Crescent dispatcher, Rana Fakih, tried to keep the terrified child calm during the prolonged call. Hours later, an ambulance was dispatched to rescue Rajab, but before it could reach her, it too was targeted by an Israeli shell, killing two paramedics. Rajab's body was found days later alongside her family's remains. Her final moments were spent on a call with her mother, believing rescue was imminent.

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Will you come to rescue me? I'm so scared.

This admission marks a significant shift after the IDF initially denied the presence of troops in the area where the shooting occurred. The military's narrative evolved, claiming they were conducting raids on "suspicious vehicles" operating in darkness. However, video evidence from a deceased paramedic's phone showing the ambulance using its emergency lights contradicted the IDF's account, prompting authorities to retract their previous statements.

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The IDF unit showed that it fired towards the vehicle moving towards the area, contrary to the prior announcements made to residents in the area.

While the IDF maintains the incident was a mistake rather than a war crime, the Palestinian Red Crescent has accused Israeli forces of intentionally targeting the ambulance despite prior coordination for the rescue. A UN investigative committee has already referred Israel to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. Critics, including the 'Hind Rajab Foundation,' argue that Israel's internal investigations are not credible and are intended to preempt international legal action. Human rights groups in Israel also point out the rarity of convictions for soldiers in such cases, with conviction rates for alleged crimes against civilians reportedly as low as 1-2%. The IDF stated that it investigates exceptional incidents in accordance with international and Israeli law, and also announced a criminal investigation into a March 2025 incident where 15 Palestinians, including rescue and UN personnel, were killed.

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A reasonable suspicion has arisen that there was a criminal violation during the shooting that occurred in this incident, and therefore, a criminal investigation has been decided.