Israel’s military has launched its first criminal investigation into troop conduct in the Gaza war after confirming soldiers fired at the vehicle that killed five‑year‑old Hind Rajab and her family, a case that has drawn worldwide condemnation.
On 29 January 2024, IDF forces opened fire with more than 300 rounds at a black Kia in Gaza City, killing Hind Rajab, her uncle and cousin while the family attempted to obey an evacuation order. Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics were blocked from reaching the car; later, fifteen paramedics were killed when an ambulance was bombed. The army said the probe stems from alleged failures to coordinate ambulance movements and the vehicle travelling contrary to a published notice.
The probe has been cited by the UN’s Gaza inquiry as evidence of possible war crimes, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Israel. Human‑rights groups and the Brussels‑based Hind Rajab Foundation have dismissed the internal investigation as fundamentally flawed, calling for an international inquiry. The development adds reputational risk for Israel and may influence aid‑flow decisions by donor governments.
Israel initially denied any troops were present and refused to open a probe, later reversing its stance and admitting fire on the vehicle. It also announced it will not investigate three other attacks that killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, highlighting a selective approach to accountability.