Hind Rajab

Hind Rajab was a five-year-old Palestinian girl who became a heartbreaking symbol of injustice in Gaza. In a tragic event that shocked the world, Hind was killed along with six family members when their car was fired upon by Israeli forces. She survived the initial attack and called for help, but the two paramedics sent to rescue her were also killed.
This site is dedicated to honoring Hind’s memory and shedding light on the thousands of children lost to armed conflict. We present real stories, documentation, and voices that demand justice for victims of violence in conflict zones.

Tragic day: 29th of Jan 2024

Chapter 1 : “A Child’s Plea Amidst Chaos”

On January 29, 2024, six-year-old Hind Rajab was fleeing Tel al-Hawa, Gaza City, with her family when their car came under Israeli tank fire. The attack killed six of her relatives, leaving Hind trapped among the bodies. In a desperate call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), she pleaded, “I’m so scared, please come.”

Chapter 2: “A Mother’s Desperate Hope”

Hind’s mother, Wissam, joined the call, trying to comfort her daughter. As night fell, Hind, terrified of the dark, grew increasingly anxious, repeatedly asking, “You will come and take me?”

Chapter 3: “The Fatal Rescue Attempt”

After hours of coordination, the PRCS dispatched an ambulance with paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun. Despite having prior coordination with Israeli forces, the ambulance was targeted upon arrival, killing both medics.

Chapter 4: “Silenced Calls and Lost Lives”

The PRCS lost contact with the ambulance shortly after it reached Hind’s location. Twelve days later, rescuers found the black Kia riddled with bullet holes, containing the bodies of Hind and her family. Nearby, the ambulance was discovered destroyed, with the paramedics’ bodies inside.

Chapter 5: “Investigations and IDF Denials”

Forensic Architecture’s investigation revealed that the family’s car had been struck by hundreds of bullets at close range, and the ambulance was hit by an IDF tank-fired shell. Despite evidence, Israeli authorities denied having troops in the area at the time.

Chapter 6: “Alone in the Dark: Hind’s Final Hours”

Trapped in the car, Hind remained on the phone with PRCS dispatchers for three hours, expressing her fear and longing for rescue. Despite the PRCS coordinating with Israeli forces for safe passage, the ambulance dispatched to rescue her was targeted and destroyed upon arrival, killing both paramedics.

Chapter 7: “Global Outcry and Pursuit of Justice”

Hind’s death sparked international condemnation. Protests erupted worldwide, with student demonstrators at Columbia University renaming a building “Hind’s Hall” in her memory. The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a war crimes complaint with the International Criminal Court against Lieutenant Colonel Beni Aharon, identified as the commander responsible for the attack. THE HIND RAJAB FOUNDATION

Slide 8: “Deliberate Targeting: Holding the IDF and Israel Accountable”

Investigations have revealed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deliberately targeted the vehicle carrying six-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, as well as the ambulance dispatched to rescue her. Forensic Architecture’s analysis concluded that an Israeli tank fired 335 rounds at the family’s car at close range, and subsequently shelled the ambulance, despite prior coordination for safe passage.
The Hind Rajab Foundation has identified Lieutenant Colonel Beni Aharon, commander of the IDF’s 401st Armored Brigade, as responsible for the operation that led to the deaths of Hind, her family, and the two paramedics. A war crimes complaint has been filed against him at the International Criminal Court.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on civilians and medical personnel in Gaza by the IDF and Israel, raising serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli military.