Israel admits troops fired on vehicle killing 5-year-old Hind Rajab

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has admitted that its soldiers fired on a vehicle in Gaza City in January 2024, killing five members of the Hamada family, including five-year-old Hind Rajab and her cousin Layan Hamada. This admission reverses previous military denials that troops were present in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood at the time of the incident.

The IDF announced it is launching a criminal investigation following a review by its General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM). The probe will specifically examine alleged failures in coordinating the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance sent to rescue the children, which also resulted in the deaths of two paramedics.

Family members have expressed skepticism regarding the investigation. Hind Rajab’s grandmother stated that the family views the probe as an attempt by the military to “justify” the killings to the international community rather than a genuine pursuit of accountability. While the Israeli foreign ministry maintains the investigation demonstrates the country is a “law-abiding democracy,” the family remains unconvinced.