Israel says it will investigate the killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza; her mother calls for an independent probe

Israel said it will investigate the killing of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl reported to have been killed in Gaza City after Israeli forces fired on her family’s car, according to a report published Thursday by The Washington Times. The case has drawn renewed calls from family members for an inquiry that, they say, is not limited to Israel’s own military review.

The Washington Times reported that Rajab’s mother is seeking an independent investigation into her daughter’s death, arguing that an Israeli military probe announced this week would not be sufficient. She said the review should be handled outside the military chain of command to ensure transparency and accountability, the report said.

The reported incident occurred in Gaza City, where Israeli operations have continued amid ongoing fighting. The Washington Times story characterizes the incident as occurring during a vehicle attack in which Israeli forces opened fire on the car carrying the family.

Israel’s announcement of a military investigation, described in the report as part of a process that is beginning this week, comes amid heightened scrutiny of civilian casualties in the conflict. Rights groups and families of victims have repeatedly pressed for third-party involvement, including independent fact-finding mechanisms, when deaths occur during airstrikes, ground operations, or exchanges of fire.

For Rajab’s mother, the demand for an independent inquiry centers on the family’s view that a military investigation cannot adequately address questions about what occurred, why force was used, and whether the killing was in line with applicable rules. The Washington Times report frames this as a dispute over process as much as over facts.

An investigation typically indicates that the state is attempting to determine key circumstances, including the identities of those involved, the sequence of events, and whether the incident was consistent with rules governing the use of force. The Washington Times report does not describe the probe’s scope, timetable, or findings, only that Israel said it would investigate and that the mother disputes the sufficiency of that approach.

The next step, based on the reporting, is whether Israel will expand the inquiry beyond the military review or adopt an independent mechanism. The family’s call for more oversight could also affect how quickly external observers press for access to evidence and how the case is handled in international scrutiny of wartime conduct.