Israel opens criminal investigation into killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Israel’s military has opened a criminal investigation into the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza City on January 29, 2024. The military said troops had fired at a vehicle that was approaching them, its first admission of firing on the car carrying Rajab. The Hind Rajab Foundation said it has no confidence in the probe, citing what it called the Israeli justice system’s complicity in Israeli crimes.
Key Facts
- Israel’s military has opened a criminal investigation into the killing of Hind Rajab, citing alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance.
- On January 29, 2024, Rajab, then five years old, died while trapped in a car in Gaza City surrounded by the bodies of her relatives after Israeli forces fired more than 300 bullets at the vehicle.
- The military’s statement that troops had fired at a vehicle approaching them was Israel’s first admission that its forces shot at the car carrying Rajab.
- Dyab Abou JahJah, president of the Hind Rajab Foundation, told Al Jazeera the foundation has no confidence in the investigation, saying the Israeli justice system has been complicit in Israeli crimes.
The Killing
On January 29, 2024, Rajab died of her injuries while trapped in a car surrounded by the bodies of her relatives, hours after her family was forcibly displaced from Gaza City. The family had attempted to follow Israeli orders to leave, but Israeli forces fired more than 300 bullets at the black Kia driven by Rajab’s uncle. Rajab’s 15-year-old cousin Layan was also in the car and spoke to Palestine Red Crescent workers by phone before she was killed. Palestinian paramedics dispatched an ambulance to rescue Rajab, the sole survivor, but Israeli forces blocked them from reaching her.
The Investigation
The Israeli military said the criminal investigation into Rajab’s killing was decided after a review of the findings and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance. It said troops had fired at a vehicle that was approaching them, marking the first time Israel has admitted shooting at the car. At first, Israel denied that its soldiers were in the area where Rajab was killed, before later saying it had raided what it called terror targets in Gaza City that day. Criminal misconduct investigations into Israeli troops over the killing of Palestinians rarely lead to convictions.
Hind Rajab Foundation Response
The Hind Rajab Foundation said it had no confidence in Israel’s decision to launch a criminal probe into Rajab’s killing. Dyab Abou JahJah, the foundation’s president, told Al Jazeera: “We do not trust the Israeli justice system, not out of an ideological position, but because of the track record.” He added: “And in this particular case, the Israeli justice system as a whole has always been complicit in Israeli crimes.” Abou JahJah said decades of Israeli crimes against Palestinians have not delivered any serious form of justice, and he does not believe this case will change that.
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Israel opens criminal investigation into killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab
