Remembering Hind Rajab: A child’s life lost to Israel’s brutal war crimes in Gaza

On 29 January 2024, the world was shaken by the brutal killing of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl whose life was cruelly cut short during Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza.

Hind’s story is not just a personal tragedy – it is a symbol of the ongoing suffering endured by thousands of Palestinian children and families under occupation and assault.

“Please, come get me”

Terror and desperation marked Hind’s final moments. She was trapped in a car with her family, surrounded by Israeli tanks as bombardments raged across Gaza City. Her relatives were killed before her eyes, leaving her alone in the wreckage, pleading for rescue.

Israel claimed that there weren’t any troops present in the neighbourhood and denied carrying out the attack. However, this was refuted by investigations relying on satellite imagery and visual evidence, which concluded that several Israeli tanks were indeed present, and that one had likely fired 335 rounds on the car that Rajab and her family had been in, with tank operators being able to see that the car had civilians including children in it.

In a harrowing phone call to emergency responders, 6-year-old Hind’s voice echoed the raw fear of a child facing unimaginable horror. “Please, come get me,” she begged, her words capturing the helplessness of Gaza’s most vulnerable.

After hours of waiting, Palestinian paramedics were given the green light by Israeli forces to go to the aid of Hind. But within moments of the ambulance reaching her car, it was fired at by Israeli soldiers – killing the two Palestnian paramedics attempting to rescue Hind Rajab.

Killing Gaza’s children

Hind Rajab’s murder is not an isolated incident – it reflects a horrifying pattern of violence against Palestinian children. According to reports, at least 17,400 Palestinian children have been killed during Israel’s attacks on Gaza since October 2023 – that’s one child killed every 30 minutes.

These children were not militants or combatants; they were students, dreamers, and symbols of Gaza’s resilience.

The killing of Hind Rajab drew widespread condemnation, yet accountability remains elusive. Calls for investigations into war crimes in Gaza continue to face political obstacles, leaving perpetrators unpunished and victims without justice.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently acknowledged that Israel’s actions in Gaza could plausibly amount to genocide, yet the violence persists.

A call to action

Hind Rajab’s name must never be forgotten.

One year on, the world must remember Hind Rajab – not just as a victim of Israel’s aggression but as a symbol of Palestinian innocence stolen by violence. Her cries for help remain unanswered, but her legacy must inspire us to fight for justice.

Hind’s killing underscores the systemic targeting of civilians, including rescue workers and medics.

As we mark the anniversary of her killing, we must translate grief into action:

1. Demand accountability – Write to your MP, urging the UK government to support investigations into war crimes in Gaza.
2. Raise awareness – Share Hind’s story and the broader crisis in Gaza on social media and within your community.
3. Support boycotts and sanctions – Join the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to comply with international law.
4. Defend Palestinian children’s rights – Advocate for an end to arms sales to Israel and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza’s besieged population.