Israel’s military announced its intention to conduct internal investigations into the deaths of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in January 2024 and 15 emergency and aid workers in March 2025 in Gaza. Despite this move, rights organizations are skeptical of the outcome, as such inquiries rarely result in convictions.
The military’s decision to investigate followed examinations by its Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism into five incidents involving Palestinian fatalities. Among these incidents was the killing of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen charity in April 2024, for which the military found no basis for launching a criminal investigation.
Stating the complexity of their operational reality, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) emphasized their commitment to investigating exceptional incidents in compliance with international and domestic laws.
The deaths of Hind Rajab and the 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza garnered international attention. However, Israeli rights groups doubt the effectiveness of criminal investigations against Israeli troops, citing low conviction rates and lenient sentences when convictions do occur.
Hind Rajab’s grandmother expressed shock at the announcement and called for international investigations into her granddaughter’s death and the treatment of children in Gaza, emphasizing the right of all Gaza children to justice.
According to UNICEF, over 64,000 Palestinian children have been killed or injured since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023. A report by the United Nations Human Rights Council accused Israeli security forces of deliberately targeting and killing Palestinian children in Gaza, a claim that Israel rejected as propaganda.
During the conflict, Hind Rajab had pleaded for help while trapped in a car as her family members lay dead. The bodies of Hind, her relatives, and two ambulance workers were recovered days later, sparking international outrage and leading to a documentary on her story receiving awards and nominations.
In March 2025, the bodies of 15 emergency and aid workers were found in a grave in the south of Gaza, with UN officials demanding answers and justice from Israel. The Red Crescent condemned the killings and emphasized the protection of medical staff and humanitarian workers under international law.
While the Israeli military denied targeting civilians deliberately, questions remain unanswered regarding the circumstances of the aid workers’ deaths. The Red Crescent stressed the importance of preventing such tragedies and ensuring the safety of medical personnel in conflict zones.