Israel admits firing on car carrying Hind Rajab, symbol of Gaza’s suffering

More than two years after Hind Rajab was killed, becoming a symbol of the suffering of children in Gaza, Israel's military, long accused of the atrocity, has confirmed a criminal investigation into the death of the five-year-old girl.

Key points

• They had attempted to follow Israeli orders to leave, but on their way, Israel's army fired more than 300 bullets at the black Kia driven by Rajab's uncle.
• Palestinian Red Crescent workers attempted to save Rajab, but were blocked from reaching her by Israeli forces.
• But criminal misconduct investigations into Israeli ⁠troops over the killing of Palestinians rarely lead to convictions.
• The military remarked on Wednesday that troops had "fired at a vehicle that was approaching them".
• At first, Israel denied that its soldiers were even in the area where she was killed.

At first, Israel denied that its soldiers were even in the area where she was killed. After journalistic investigations, including by Al Jazeera, the army remarked it had raided "terror targets" in Gaza City that day. In January this year, Israeli authorities stated they were reviewing the case.

In practice, the military remarked in an official note on Wednesday that the criminal investigation into Rajab's killing was decided on after a review of the findings "and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance".

After her family was forcibly displaced hours earlier from Gaza City, on January 29, 2024, at regarding 7: 30pm, Rajab died of her injuries while she was trapped in a car surrounded by the bodies of her relatives. They had attempted to follow Israeli orders to leave, but on their way, Israel's army fired more than 300 bullets at the black Kia driven by Rajab's uncle.

Palestinian Red Crescent workers attempted to save Rajab, but were blocked from reaching her by Israeli forces. Palestinian paramedics dispatched an ambulance to rescue the child, the sole survivor, and stayed on the line until contact was lost.

For context, the military remarked on Wednesday that troops had "fired at a vehicle that was approaching them". It is the first time Israel has admitted shooting at the car.

Rajab's grandmother, additionally named Hind Rajab, informed The Associated Press news agency by phone that the Israeli investigation is not enough, and pressed an international probe into the killing of her granddaughter and all of the thousands of children killed in Gaza during the war.

"An international investigation is required to uncover the truth and hold all those responsible accountable, " she remarked. "We call for justice, not only for Hind, but for all Gaza children."

As well as the killing of 15 Palestinian medics in March 2025, announcing its first criminal probes of troop conduct in Gaza, Israel's military remarked the case of Rajab and her family members in early 2024 would be reviewed. Both incidents gained international attention.

In practice, the announcement followed reviews of 150 incidents of troop conduct during Israel's war on Gaza, it remarked, but went on that the military would not launch criminal investigations into three other attacks that killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders.

Rajab's last words, her recorded pleas for support by phone, were widely shared on social media and led to international condemnation. A 2024 Al Jazeera investigation into the killing of Rajab and her family made public that an Israeli tank was probable 13 to 23 metres (43 to 75ft) away and would have clearly seen the civilians inside the car. A docu-drama on the killing of Hind Rajab was nominated at the 2026 Oscars for Best International Feature Film.

Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting in Gaza, remarked, "People here who are hearing about the investigation are sceptical that it will bring any justice to Hind and her family."

For now, israel admits firing on car carrying Hind Rajab, symbol of Gaza's suffering remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.