Israel Admits Opening Fire on Car Carrying 5-Year-Old Girl in Gaza, Launches Investigation

The Israeli military has officially acknowledged that its forces fired on a vehicle carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, marking a significant shift after previously denying involvement. The military announced on Tuesday that it has ordered a criminal investigation into the killing, which occurred in January 2024 and has drawn widespread international condemnation.

Rajab had made a series of desperate calls to the Palestinian Red Crescent for help before her phone went silent. Days later, her bullet-riddled body was discovered in a car in Gaza City. The Israeli military's initial statements had placed its forces away from the area at the time of the incident.

In its review, the military stated that its forces "fired on a vehicle that was approaching and driving in a direction contrary to the prior notification issued to local residents." The firing resulted in the deaths of five passengers. Rajab and her cousin, Layan Hamada, were the only survivors. After the girls contacted rescue services, the military coordinated a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance to evacuate the injured. However, the ambulance was later hit by a shell, killing two paramedics.

Rajab's death, along with that of her relatives and the paramedics, has been a focal point of international anger, with calls for independent investigations. Her distress calls were even featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary "The Voice of Hind Rajab."

The military's investigation is part of a broader review of incidents since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The IDF's Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism has reviewed 150 incidents, with five reports released Tuesday. The military also announced a separate criminal investigation into an incident in March 2025 where 15 medical and emergency personnel were killed while traveling in ambulances and other response vehicles.