Israel Opens Criminal Investigations Into Killing Of 5-Year-Old Hind Rajab And 15 Palestinian Paramedics

Israel's military announced it will open criminal investigations into two high-profile incidents during the Gaza war: the killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and the deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics. The statement follows a review of 150 incidents involving troop conduct in Gaza, in which the military said it made decisions in five cases.

What the Military Announced

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it would launch criminal probes into the killings of Hind Rajab and the 15 paramedics. It also said it would not pursue criminal investigations into three other deadly incidents that involved aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders.

Hind Rajab: Flight, Radio Calls And A Tragic Outcome

According to accounts and Red Crescent phone records, Hind, 5, was shot along with relatives while attempting to flee Gaza City during an Israeli operation in February 2024. Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle carrying Hind, four cousins and an aunt and uncle. Hind's 15-year-old cousin, Layan Hamada, called the Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic center to report a nearby tank and say family members had been killed; seconds later, more gunfire is heard on the recording and her screams stop.

The Red Crescent remained in contact while seeking permission from the military to recover Hind. Contact was later lost. Hind, five relatives and two medics were found dead 12 days after the attack.

Rafah Paramedics: Ambulances Fired On And Bodies Buried

In a separate incident in May 2025 in Rafah, southern Gaza, 15 paramedics were killed after Israeli forces fired on emergency vehicles responding to casualties from an operation. Video footage and testimony from the sole survivor show that troops first shot at an ambulance attempting to retrieve the wounded, then fired on other emergency vehicles that went to assist.

FILE.- People hold a giant portrait of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed during the war in Gaza, on a beach in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Troops later bulldozed the scene, burying the bodies and damaged vehicles in what witnesses and rescue workers described as a mass grave. U.N. and rescue teams were only able to reach the site about a week later to exhume the remains.

Disputed Accounts And Evidence

The military initially said its troops opened fire because the vehicles were "advancing suspiciously" without headlights or emergency signals. That account shifted after footage emerged showing Red Crescent and Civil Defense teams driving slowly with emergency lights on and identifying logos visible.

"We are not obligated to prove the truth because it is already proven to the whole world," Eid Azizi, a Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson, told The Associated Press by phone. "We shouldn't have reached this point if they respected and followed the international humanitarian law."

Broader Context

The current Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting roughly 251. Israel's subsequent campaign in Gaza has, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, resulted in more than 73,000 deaths. The ministry also reports that at least 1,273 people have been killed in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led administration, keeps detailed casualty records that U.N. agencies and independent experts generally regard as reliable, though it does not provide a full breakdown between civilians and militants.

The military's statement did not address other high-profile incidents it had previously said it would investigate, including an August 2025 hospital strike in southern Gaza that killed five journalists, among them Mariam Dagga, a visual journalist who freelanced for The Associated Press and other outlets.

What Happens Next

Opening criminal investigations is an early step; such probes can vary widely in scope and outcome. The cases will likely be closely watched by international organizations, human rights groups and the families involved, who have cited recordings, cellphone footage and eyewitness testimony that conflict with initial military accounts.