Israel's military has confirmed its soldiers fired at the car in which five-year-old Hind Rajab and six family members were killed in Gaza in 2024, and has ordered a criminal investigation.
Key facts
- The Israeli military admitted on Wednesday its troops opened fire on the car carrying Hind Rajab and six relatives.
- The killings took place in Gaza in 2024.
- Hind Rajab was five years old and initially survived the attack, pleading for help before her body was recovered.
- The military has ordered a criminal investigation into the death.
- The case was one of the most high-profile civilian casualty incidents of the early Gaza conflict.
The Israeli military admitted on Wednesday that its troops had opened fire on a car carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and six of her family members in Gaza in 2024, according to the Guardian. The military said it had ordered a criminal investigation into the killing.
The death of Rajab and her family was one of the most high-profile of a series of incidents involving civilian casualties during the first months of the Gaza conflict, the Guardian reported. The case drew international outrage.
According to the BBC, the five-year-old initially survived the attack and pleaded for help. Her body was later recovered along with those of six of her relatives.
The confirmation from the Israeli military marks an acknowledgement that its soldiers were responsible for firing at the vehicle. The military’s decision to open a criminal investigation signals that the incident will be formally examined.
The killing occurred in 2024 and has remained one of the most widely referenced examples of civilian harm during the early stages of the conflict in Gaza, according to the Guardian’s reporting.
Why it matters
The case became an internationally recognised symbol of civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict, and Israel's admission that its own troops fired on the vehicle is a significant acknowledgement. The decision to open a criminal investigation could shape accountability efforts around civilian casualties during the war.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hind Rajab?
Hind Rajab was a five-year-old girl in Gaza who was killed in 2024 along with six of her family members. According to the BBC, she initially survived the attack and pleaded for help before her body was recovered.
What has the Israeli military admitted?
The Israeli military admitted on Wednesday that its troops had opened fire on the car carrying Hind Rajab and six family members in Gaza in 2024, according to the Guardian.
Is there an investigation into the killing?
Yes. The Israeli military said it had ordered a criminal investigation into the death of Hind Rajab and her six family members, according to the Guardian.