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.
In the early hours of January 29, 2024, the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City was plunged into fear as Israeli evacuation orders forced families to flee. Among them was six-year-old Hind Rajab, staying with the Hamada family. As explosions echoed nearby, they gathered what they could and searched for safety, unaware that the escape itself would prove deadly.
Hind left with her great-uncle Bashar Hamada, his wife, and their children in a small black Kia Picanto, navigating streets choked with debris. Israeli tanks had taken up positions nearby. As the car moved through the area, it entered the direct line of fire of a tank stationed just 13 to 23 meters away — close enough to clearly see the civilians inside.
Without warning, the tank opened fire. At least 335 bullets tore through the vehicle, killing Bashar, his wife, and three of their children instantly. Only Hind and her 15-year-old cousin Layan survived the initial assault, shielded by the bodies of their family members.
Wounded and trapped, Layan called the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). “They’re shooting at us… the tank is right next to me,” she said before gunfire erupted again, killing her mid-call. When PRCS called back, Hind answered, terrified and alone. For over three hours, dispatchers stayed on the line as she pleaded, “Please come take me.”
After prolonged coordination, an ambulance was finally dispatched. Clearly marked and approved for passage, it never reached Hind. The same tank targeted and destroyed the ambulance, killing paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun. Contact with Hind was lost. When Israeli forces withdrew 12 days later, Hind, her family, and the medics were found dead.
Independent investigations by Forensic Architecture, supported by satellite imagery and acoustic analysis, confirmed Israeli armored units were present and had a clear view of the civilians they fired upon. The killings — including the attack on rescuers — may constitute war crimes under international law. Hind Rajab’s death has since become a global symbol of the cost of impunity, and a call to protect civilians, demand accountability, and ensure that no child’s final plea for help is ever ignored again.
Legal action The Hind Rajab Foundation submits a 120-page Article 15 filing to the International Criminal Court, naming 24 Israeli soldiers and commanders and alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
21 October 2025
Public release Al Jazeera and the Hind Rajab Foundation release The Tip of the Iceberg, identifying the Israeli battalion and commanders involved.
28 June 2024
Congressional session The investigation is entered into the U.S. Congressional Record by Representative Rashida Tlaib.
24 June 2024
Press Briefing The U.S. State Department is questioned publicly about the findings of the Forensic Architecture and Earshot investigation.
10 February 2024 — Daytime
After Israeli forces withdraw, the bodies of Hind, six family members, and the two paramedics are recovered. The ambulance is found approximately 50 metres from the car.
29 January – 10 February 2024
The area remains under Israeli military control. The car and ambulance remain inaccessible and visible in satellite imagery.
29 January 2024 — 6:00 PM
PRCS paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun arrive near the car. Radio communications record their final moments: “…oh, there it is!” An Israeli tank fires, destroying the ambulance and killing both paramedics.
29 January 2024 — 5:40 PM
Israeli authorities grant clearance for an ambulance to reach Hind’s location.
29 January 2024 — Afternoon
Hind, now the sole survivor, remains in contact with PRCS for over three hours, pleading for rescue.
29 January 2024 — 2:30 PM
Layan Hamada (15) calls the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS): “They are shooting at us. The tank is next to me.” Seconds later, 64 gunshots in 6 seconds are heard. Layan is killed during the call.
29 January 2024 — Late morning
The family’s Kia Picanto is fired upon near an intersection later shown by satellite imagery to contain Israeli Merkava tanks. The car is hit by at least 335 bullets. Most family members are killed instantly.
29 January 2024 — 9:32 AM
An Israeli military evacuation order is posted online, instructing residents of west Gaza City to move south, despite satellite imagery showing the roads are impassable.
29 January 2024 — Early morning
Hind Rajab (6) leaves a home in Tel al-Hawa, Gaza City with six relatives, fleeing Israeli military operations. Roads leading south are blocked by rubble from recent airstrikes.
