Israeli military admits for first time to firing on car carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab as it opens criminal probe

The Israeli military acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that it opened fire on the vehicle carrying 5-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza and said it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had previously denied involvement in the January 2024 killing, saying months later that a preliminary investigation found its forces were “not present near the vehicle or within firing range” of the vehicle. Rajab was one of seven family members traveling in a vehicle in northern Gaza on when they came under Israeli fire. Rajab survived the initial fire and pleaded on the phone for hours with Palestinian paramedics to come rescue her. Afterwards, an ambulance dispatched to save her also came under fire. Twelve days later, Rajab’s body was found in a car riddled with bullets. Recordings of Rajab’s call with paramedics gained international attention, driving calls for accountability for her killing and that of thousands of other children in Gaza. A film about the incident, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” was nominated for an Oscar in 2026. This is a developing story and will be updated.