Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - The Israeli military has announced a criminal investigation into the 2024 killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family in Gaza, marking a major reversal after previously denying that its forces were operating in the area.
The military said an internal review found that Israeli troops had fired on the vehicle carrying Hind and her relatives. Hind was trapped inside the car for hours while pleading by phone for help before she was killed.
The investigation will also examine the death of Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics who were dispatched to rescue Hind.
The ambulance came under fire after reaching the area, and the bodies of Hind, her family members and the two paramedics were recovered 12 days later. The Israeli military has described the decision as part of a wider review of 150 incidents involving alleged misconduct during its Gaza operations.
The announcement has renewed demands for accountability over civilian deaths in Gaza, but Hind's family has expressed little confidence in an Israeli military investigation and called instead for an independent international inquiry. Rights groups have also questioned whether Israel's internal investigations can deliver meaningful accountability.
The case is now under intense international scrutiny, with the criminal probe likely to face pressure to establish who ordered the attacks and whether anyone will ultimately be held responsible.
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