Hind Rajab's grandmother rejects Israeli army probe into killing, calls for independent international investigation: Report

The grandmother of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab has rejected an Israeli military probe into her killing, calling for an independent international investigation. Following the military's admission of responsibility for Rajab's death, her grandmother expressed a lack of confidence in Israeli investigations and the judiciary, stating, "We are not demanding justice only in Hind’s name as a child from Gaza, but in the name of all our child martyrs in Gaza" (Anadolu Agency). The Israeli military has announced criminal investigations into the killings of Hind Rajab and 15 Palestinian paramedics, marking a significant development in its approach to accountability regarding troop conduct during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The investigation into Rajab's death, which occurred in February 2024, has drawn considerable international attention. Reports indicate that Rajab initially survived an attack on a vehicle that resulted in the deaths of several family members and pleaded for help from medics before her body was later recovered alongside those of six relatives and two paramedics (The Hindu, Middle East Eye). The decision to initiate these criminal probes has been met with surprise within Israel, as the investigations come a considerable time after the incidents occurred. Noga Tarnopolsky, a correspondent for France24, noted that the timing of the investigation is considered "extremely late." However, the referral of these high-profile cases for criminal investigation indicates an acknowledgment from the Israeli army that serious issues may have arisen during these events (The New York Times, AP News). In addition to the investigations into the killings of Rajab and the paramedics, the Israeli military has stated that it will not pursue criminal investigations into three other attacks that resulted in the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. This decision has highlighted the complexities and controversies surrounding military conduct in the region. Overall, the initiation of these criminal investigations reflects a notable shift in the Israeli military's stance on accountability, particularly concerning civilian casualties and the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones (The Hindu, AP News).