Get you up to speed: Israeli military admits opening fire on car carrying five-year-old girl | News World
The Israeli military acknowledged opening fire on a car containing Hind Rajab, 5, and her family while they were attempting to flee from Gaza City on January 28, 2024. Hind and her relatives were later found dead in the vehicle, with the circumstances prompting a criminal investigation.
The Israeli Defence Forces have confirmed that their troops fired on a vehicle approaching them, leading to a criminal investigation into the incident. Although the Palestinian Red Crescent Society attempted to reach the victims shortly after the shooting, emergency services were reportedly unable to access the scene for 12 days.
The Israeli Defence Forces have acknowledged their troops fired on the vehicle containing Hind Rajab and her family, stating, “The findings of the examination indicate that IDF troops fired at a vehicle that was approaching them.” In response, a criminal investigation has been launched to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
What remains unclear — The outcome of the criminal investigation into the Israeli military’s actions is still pending.
Israeli military confirms shooting at vehicle containing five-year-old girl
The Israeli military has admitted to opening fire on a car where Hind Rajab, 5, was sheltering in terror after her entire family was gunned down.
Hind and her family had just left their home in Gaza City on January 28, 2024, after seeing a post from the Israeli Defence Forces asking residents in the west of Gaza City to evacuate.
Along with her four cousins, aunt and uncle, the group packed into the car and began driving towards their family in northern Gaza City, rather than staying in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood.
They didn’t make it. Their bullet-ridden bodies were found after Hind bravely called for help, hiding amongst her family members before ultimately being shot as well.
The IDF previously claimed its forces ‘were not present near the vehicle or within the firing range of the described vehicle’, and said the incident has been passed on for investigation. They’ve since admitted they lied.
Hind and her family had been fleeing the neighbourhood after a warning from the IDF (Picture: AFP)
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Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 10, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
The car Hind and her family were travelling in was shot at hundreds of times (Picture: Reuters)
Today, the IDF said: ‘The findings of the examination indicate that IDF troops fired at a vehicle that was approaching them.’
A criminal investigation has been launched.
How the attack unfolded
Around 2.30pm that day, emergency dispatcher Omar al-Qam managed to reach Layan, Hind’s cousin, who was in the car with her.
‘They’re firing at us. The tank is next to me!’ she said.
‘Are you all hiding?’ Omar asked.
‘Yes, in the car,’ Layan said, with more urgency. ‘The tank is next to us.’
Omar asked the teenager another question before the sound of rapid gunfire, and a scream was heard. The call ended.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society immediately called back after the phone call with Layan was cut by rapid gunfire.
A little voice picked up on the other end – it was Hind. She was still alive, hiding in a car with the bodies of her family.
‘The tank is next to me,’ she said.
A female operator asked her: ‘Is it moving, or is it stopped? Did anyone come out of it?’
Hind paused, before replying: ‘It’s moving from the front of the car.’
‘Is it close?’ the operator asked. ‘Very, very close,’ Hind replied.
Two hours later, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society managed to liaise with an arm of the IDF called COGAT that coordinates safe passage for ambulances in Palestine.
They were sent a map from COGAT detailing a safe passageway to where Hind is hiding in the car, and paramedics Yousef Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun left al-Ahli Hospital to make the two-mile journey to find the little girl.
Hind Rajab was only five years old when she was killed (Picture: AFP)
Hind and her family were found dead inside the car days later (Picture: Getty)
With the lights of their ambulance flashing clearly, they began driving down Al Majdal Street, where Hind’s family car was sitting.
Yousef was on a call when it dropped after an explosion was heard – the sound was also heard on the call with Hind, who urged the Red Crescent to get her quickly.
Little Hind was found dead among her relatives when emergency services were able to reach the scene 12 days later.
The Palestinian Red Crescent’s spokesperson, Nebal Farsakh, told WTX in 2024: ‘This is not at all an isolated incident. This little girl was six years old, trapped in a car while everyone inside the car was killed in front of her.
‘She went through one of the most horrific events that most people couldn’t bear. If this happened in any other country or warzone, it would catch more attention. It should not be allowed to pass as nothing.’
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