The Israeli army has introduced a felony investigation into the killing that shook the world, however hopes for justice are slim.
Revealed On 19 Aug 2026
Greater than two years after Hind Rajab was killed, turning into a logo of the struggling of kids in Gaza, Israel’s army, lengthy accused of the atrocity, has introduced a felony investigation into the demise of the five-year-old lady.
At first, Israel denied that its troopers have been even within the space the place she was killed. After journalistic investigations, together with by Al Jazeera, the military stated it had raided “terror targets” in Gaza Metropolis that day. In January this 12 months, Israeli officers stated they have been reviewing the case.
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The army stated in an announcement on Wednesday that the felony investigation into Rajab’s killing was selected following a overview of the findings “and on account of alleged failures within the coordination of the motion of the Palestine Purple Crescent ambulance”.
On January 29, 2024, at about 7:30pm, Rajab died of her accidents whereas she was trapped in a automotive surrounded by the our bodies of her kinfolk, after her household was forcibly displaced hours earlier from Gaza Metropolis. That they had tried to observe Israeli orders to go away, however on their manner, Israel’s military fired greater than 300 bullets on the black Kia pushed by Rajab’s uncle. Her 15-year-old cousin Layan was additionally within the automotive and spoke to Palestine Purple Crescent staff by cellphone earlier than she was killed.
Palestinian Purple Crescent staff tried to avoid wasting Rajab, however have been blocked from reaching her by Israeli forces. Palestinian paramedics dispatched an ambulance to rescue the kid, the only real survivor, and stayed on the road till contact was misplaced.
The army stated on Wednesday that troops had “fired at a automobile that was approaching them”. It’s the first time Israel has admitted taking pictures on the automotive.
However felony misconduct investigations into Israeli troops over the killing of Palestinians not often result in convictions.
Rajab’s grandmother, additionally named Hind Rajab, informed The Related Press information company by cellphone that the Israeli investigation just isn’t sufficient, and referred to as for a world probe into the killing of her granddaughter and all the 1000’s of kids killed in Gaza throughout the struggle.
“A global investigation is required to uncover the reality and maintain all these accountable accountable,” she stated. “We name for justice, not just for Hind, however for all Gaza kids.”
Folks in Gaza ‘sceptical’
Saying its first felony probes of troop conduct in Gaza, Israel’s army stated the case of Rajab and her relations in early 2024 could be reviewed, in addition to the killing of 15 Palestinian medics in March 2025. Each incidents gained worldwide consideration.
The announcement adopted critiques of 150 incidents of troop conduct throughout Israel’s struggle on Gaza, it stated, however added that the army wouldn’t launch felony investigations into three different assaults that killed support staff from World Central Kitchen and Docs With out Borders.
Rajab’s final phrases, her recorded pleas for assist by cellphone, have been broadly shared on social media and led to worldwide condemnation. A 2024 Al Jazeera investigation into the killing of Rajab and her household revealed that an Israeli tank was seemingly 13 to 23 metres (43 to 75ft) away and would have clearly seen the civilians contained in the automotive. A docu-drama on the killing of Hind Rajab was nominated on the 2026 Oscars for Greatest Worldwide Function Movie.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting in Gaza, stated, “Folks right here who’re listening to concerning the investigation are sceptical that it’ll carry any justice to Hind and her household.”
