Jerusalem – Wesam Hamada, the mother of five‑year‑old Hind Rajab, is urging an independent investigation into the Israeli military’s shooting that killed her daughter, five relatives and two emergency workers in Gaza City. Hamada says the criminal probe announced by Israel’s defense forces this week does not satisfy the need for accountability.
Family’s account of the attack
On a January 2024 call that was later released worldwide, Hind pleaded with her mother, saying, “Mama, I’m scared. Mama, I’m hungry. Mama, I’m hurt.” The recording, heard alongside the sounds of gunfire, became one of the most widely cited pieces of evidence from the Israel‑Hamas war.
According to the transcript, Hind’s 15‑year‑old cousin Layan Hamada also called for help. After a brief exchange with Red Crescent dispatchers, gunshots continued and Layan’s screams stopped. Hind later informed the ambulance crew that her cousin was dead and that Israeli tanks were advancing.
Details of the incident
Israeli troops admitted they fired at the family’s vehicle as it attempted to flee an Israeli incursion and also fired toward an ambulance dispatched to the scene. Six civilians in the car and two paramedics were killed. The bodies were discovered twelve days after the attack, with the ambulance found destroyed and blackened.
Initial Israeli statements denied the presence of troops in the area. A United Nations commission of inquiry and the research group Forensic Architecture later presented evidence placing Israeli forces near the car, attributing the attack to them.
Calls for a credible inquiry
Hamada told the Associated Press, “Why did the investigation and the acknowledgment of the shooting at Hind’s car and at the paramedics come only after more than two years? It’s an attempt to distract from what’s happening in Gaza and improve the army’s image to the world.” She added that an impartial investigation is the only way to deliver justice for her family and the emergency workers.
The Israeli military said it would conduct a criminal investigation, with findings to be reviewed by military prosecutors and the military advocate general, who can decide whether to pursue charges. Historically, such investigations have resulted in very few prosecutions; an analysis by Israeli rights group Yesh Din found only 0.17 % of reviewed incidents from 2014‑2022 led to indictment.
International response and advocacy
The tragedy sparked global outcry after the Palestinian Red Crescent Society released the recordings and a short film titled “The Voice of Hind Rajab” was nominated for an Oscar. The Belgium‑based Hind Rajab Foundation, which seeks accountability for alleged war crimes, warned that Israel’s internal probe should not be mistaken for genuine justice, describing it as fundamentally flawed.
Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 73,400 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to Gaza’s health ministry. While the ministry does not break down civilian versus combatant deaths, it estimates that women and children account for about half of the fatalities.
Broader implications
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the ability of military justice systems to hold soldiers accountable in conflict zones. It also underscores the emotional toll on families like Hamada’s, who lost a child who “wanted to become a doctor” and now join countless other grieving parents in Gaza.
As the Israeli military proceeds with its two criminal probes covering roughly 150 incidents, observers will watch whether any charges are filed and what impact the findings may have on the broader conduct of the war.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
