The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that its armed forces opened fire on a vehicle in Gaza in 2024 resulting in the deaths of five-year-old Hind Rajab and six members of her family.
Israeli Military officials announced the launch of a criminal investigation into the incident, alongside inquiries into separate attacks targeting medical staff and humanitarian personnel.
The attack occurred on 29 January 2024 as the family attempted to leave Gaza City during Israel’s genocide on the beseiged strip. Hind remained on a phone call with the Palestinian Red Crescent for three hours to request help after artillery hit the vehicle, killing her relatives inside the Kia Picanto.
When emergency workers dispatched an ambulance to retrieve Hind, Israeli troops fired on the vehicle, killing two paramedics. Rescue teams located the bodies 12 days later following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the sector.
The military initially stated that its troops were not operating near the location. Investigations conducted by media organizations and independent researchers presented evidence identifying Israeli tanks in the vicinity.
“Following review of the findings and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance, it has been decided to initiate a criminal investigation of the incident by military police criminal investigation division,” the Israeli military stated on Wednesday.
Military authorities also opened a criminal investigation into a March 2025 incident near Rafah where soldiers killed 15 Palestinian paramedics and emergency personnel.
Troops positioning for an ambush fired on an initial ambulance before shooting at subsequent emergency vehicles approaching the location. Israeli forces used bulldozers to move the bodies and vehicles into a mass grave. Rescue workers reached the burial site one week later.
“They were killed in their uniforms. Driving their clearly marked vehicles. Wearing their gloves. On their way to save lives. This should never have happened,” said Jonathan Whittall, a United Nations (UN) official involved in the recovery process.
The military previously reported that the emergency vehicles traveled without lights or signals. Video evidence showed the Red Crescent and civil defense vehicles moving at low speeds with emergency lights active and organizational logos visible.
“I hope those who killed my colleagues, who were like family to me, face justice, real justice,” said Munther Abed, a Palestinian paramedic who survived the incident. “I want to say to the whole world, ambulances 101 is not a target and they must be protected.”
The military declined to open a criminal inquiry into the April 2024 airstrikes that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen. Strikes hit the marked vehicle convoy after workers coordinated their movement route with military personnel.
Military officials stated that commanders mistook individuals in the convoy for armed Hamas operatives after the vehicles departed from the agreed route, concluding that “the decisions of the commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct.”
Official records state that the genocide began in October 2023, resulting in over 73,000 deaths, including 1,200 casualties since the implementation of a ceasefire in October. Meanwhile, fresh airstrikes on Wednesday killed seven Palestinians.
