Israeli military opens probe into Gaza City deaths

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday it has opened a criminal investigation into the January 2024 deaths of six-year-old Hind Rajab and two paramedics in Gaza City, following an internal review that pointed to possible coordination failures involving an ambulance.

The military said the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division will lead the inquiry. It will examine alleged failures related to coordinating the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance during fighting in the area.

IDF says internal review raised coordination concerns

According to the military, the decision to move from an internal operational review to a criminal investigation came after a review of the incident’s circumstances. The IDF said it also looked at the procedures used to coordinate ambulance movements.

The IDF framed the case around questions involving “deconfliction” procedures, which are intended to protect emergency responders as they move in conflict zones. The military did not provide a timeline for when the criminal investigation will be completed.

Incident details include ambulance dispatch and later recovery

In the IDF account described in the report, Rajab was in a vehicle with six family members when it came under fire in Gaza City. The military said the bodies of Rajab and her relatives were recovered days later.

The Israel Defense Forces

The report also said two paramedics were recovered alongside an ambulance that had been dispatched to provide medical assistance. The criminal investigation will focus on the coordination tied to that ambulance’s movement during the fighting, the IDF said.

Military Advocate General to assess findings

The military said findings from the Military Police inquiry will be submitted to the Military Advocate General for legal assessment. That review is expected to consider whether the engagement complied with rules governing military conduct.

Officials did not specify what outcomes the process could produce. The open question, as described in the report, is whether the investigation results in charges or disciplinary action after the Military Advocate General completes an assessment.

The case has drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding Rajab’s reported situation in Gaza City and the subsequent dispatch of emergency medical responders. The IDF’s announcement indicates that the military is treating the matter as more than an internal operational review, shifting it into a formal criminal process within the military system.