Israel’s military announced on Wednesday that it would launch internal inquiries into the deaths of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in January 2024 and 15 emergency and aid workers in Gaza in March 2025. However, rights organizations have pointed out that such investigations seldom result in convictions.
The military’s decision to investigate came after assessments by its Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, which reviewed five incidents involving the fatalities of Palestinians. Among these incidents was the examination of the deaths of seven aid workers affiliated with the World Central Kitchen charity in April 2024. Following this incident, the military stated that there was no credible suspicion of criminal wrongdoing warranting a criminal investigation.
In a statement, the Israeli military highlighted the intensive combat operations it had been conducting across various fronts for over a thousand days, operating in a highly complex operational environment. The military underscored its commitment to examining exceptional incidents that occurred during combat, in line with its obligations under international and Israeli laws.
Both the killing of Hind Rajab in February 2024 and the deaths of 15 Palestinian medics in May 2025 garnered international attention. Despite the investigations, Israeli rights groups have expressed skepticism about the likelihood of convictions in cases involving Israeli troops and the killing of Palestinians.
According to Yesh Din, an Israeli rights organization, the low rate of indictments relative to the number of complaints lodged against soldiers and commanders is concerning. When convictions do occur, the sentences are often perceived as disproportionately lenient compared to the gravity of the offenses committed.
Hind Rajab’s grandmother, who shares the same name, expressed shock at the announcement of the investigations, stating that the family lacked confidence in Israel’s ability to conduct a fair inquiry. She called for other countries to investigate the circumstances surrounding her granddaughter’s death and the deaths of other children in Gaza, emphasizing the need for accountability for the soldiers responsible.
Recent reports from UNICEF and the United Nations Human Rights Council have highlighted the significant toll on Palestinian children in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. UNICEF reported that over 64,000 Palestinian children had been killed or injured since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
The situation in Gaza has drawn global attention, with calls for justice and accountability growing louder in the face of ongoing violence and humanitarian crises.
