Israeli military admits firing on car carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab, opens probe

The Israeli military has for the first time acknowledged its troops fired on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, announcing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, that it has initiated a criminal investigation into her death. This admission comes after the military had previously denied involvement in the January 2024 incident, with an earlier preliminary investigation stating that its forces were "not present near the vehicle or within firing range."

The decision to open a criminal probe follows a review by the military's Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, which identified "apparent failures" in coordinating the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance dispatched to rescue Rajab. Rajab was found dead 12 days after the initial firing, alongside her family members and two paramedics who had attempted to reach her. Recordings of Rajab's desperate phone calls with paramedics seeking help garnered international attention and calls for accountability.