The Israeli military announced on a Wednesday that it has launched criminal investigations into troop conduct during two high-profile incidents in the Gaza war: the killings of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, and the deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, according to reporting by Apnews.
Israeli Military Launches Criminal Investigations Into Hind Rajab and Paramedic Killings
The Israel Defense Forces stated that the decisions followed the completion of reviews covering 150 incidents of troop conduct in Gaza, leading to determinations on five specific cases, as detailed by Cbsnews. While opening probes into the Rajab and paramedic deaths, the military stated it would not initiate criminal investigations into three other attacks, including a strike involving World Central Kitchen aid workers.
The Deaths of Hind Rajab and Dispatch Rescuers
The investigation into Hind Rajab marks the first time the military has acknowledged that its troops opened fire on the vehicle carrying the child and her relatives in January 2024, having previously stated that no forces were present in the area, according to Cbsnews. Rajab was in a car with six family members fleeing an Israeli invasion of Gaza City when it came under fire. Her 15-year-old cousin, Layan Hamada, called the Palestine Red Crescent paramedic center reporting that a tank was approaching before gunfire cut her off.
Rajab remained the sole survivor in the stranded vehicle and stayed on a phone call with dispatchers for hours as she begged for rescue. The military admitted Wednesday that troops subsequently fired toward a dispatched ambulance, killing the two medics inside. The bodies of Rajab, her five relatives, and the two paramedics were recovered 12 days later.
Probe Into the Killing of 15 Medics in Southern Gaza
The military also ordered a criminal investigation into the March 2025 killings of 15 Palestinians, including emergency rescue workers and United Nations staff, in Tel al-Sultan in southern Gaza. The military initially claimed forces opened fire because the vehicles were advancing suspiciously without headlights or emergency signals. However, the military later walked back that account after cellphone video and footage emerged showing Red Crescent and Palestinian Civil Defense teams driving slowly with flashing emergency lights and visible logos.
According to the military’s announcement, one deputy commander has been directed to step down in connection with the incident. The bodies of the 15 workers were later recovered from a grave in the sand near wrecked and well-marked vehicles.
Skepticism From Rights Groups and Families
Human rights organizations and family members expressed deep skepticism regarding the new military police investigations. Dan Owen, a researcher with the Yesh Din rights organization, stated that only a tiny proportion of past investigations into troop conduct have led to indictments, and that growing political pressure deters law enforcement from holding responsible personnel accountable, Reuters reported.
An investigation conducted by Action on Armed Violence found that 88% of 52 publicly acknowledged Israeli military investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank stalled or closed without findings, resulting in just one prison sentence against an accused soldier. Hind Rajab’s grandmother called the domestic military probe insufficient and demanded an international investigation.
An international investigation is required to uncover the truth and hold all those responsible accountable,
she told the Apnews.
