The Israeli military announced the start of criminal investigations into troop conduct during two specific incidents in the ongoing war in Gaza. These probes focus on the February 2024 killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family members, as well as the death of 15 Palestinian paramedics in a separate incident in May 2025.
Hind Rajab was killed while she and her relatives were trapped in a vehicle in Gaza City. The girl had contacted the Palestinian Red Crescent for help as the military advanced in the area. Paramedics sent to rescue her were also killed, and the military now confirms that troops fired at the ambulance sent for the operation.
In the second incident, Israeli troops engaged a group of paramedics in the southern city of Rafah. The military reported that one deputy commander will step down as a result of the findings related to this event. Reports from the time indicated that the emergency workers were in clearly marked vehicles when they came under fire.
While these two cases are now subject to criminal review, the military stated that other incidents, including the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and several staffers from Doctors Without Borders, will not undergo criminal investigation. In those instances, the military maintains that the actions taken were based on operational errors or tactical decisions rather than criminal misconduct.
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in high casualties, with local records indicating over 73,000 deaths. Families of the victims and international observers continue to call for accountability beyond these internal military proceedings, citing concerns over the protection of civilians and emergency personnel in combat zones.