Honoring the Memory of Hind Rajab, Her Family, and the Countless Victims of Genocide in Gaza Last year on this day, January 29, 2024, five-year-old Hind Rajab was murdered, alongside her family, in a brutal act of genocidal violence by the Israeli Defense Forces. Hind survived the initial attack but was left trapped in the wreckage, surrounded by the dead bodies of her family members. Her cries for help, captured during a live call to emergency services, were broadcast worldwide. The inhumanity of this calculated act reverberated globally, showing Israel's systematic and indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Gaza. One year later, we remember Hind as more than a victim of Israel’s genocidal campaign—she is a symbol of resistance, a child whose life and story demand justice. A ceasefire has been reached in Gaza, almost a year after the murder of Hind Rajab, and those responsible have not faced justice yet. With our work at the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), we aim to break the cycle of Israeli impunity and the pursuit of justice and accountability for Israeli soldiers who committed war crimes and human rights violations against Palestinians. The Murder of Hind Rajab On that horrendous day one year ago, Hind, alongside her four cousins, aunt, and uncle, made an attempt to evacuate from the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City as Israeli forces invaded. As they were trying to escape in their Kia Picanto, an IDF unit began shooting at their car. Hind’s cousin, 15 year old Layan Hamada, made an urgent call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), stating that they were being targeted, a tank was getting closer, and that everyone in the car besides Hind and her were killed. Seconds after, gunshots were heard once again, and Layan’s screaming abruptly stopped. Hind was now the only one left alive, gravely injured and alone, trapped in the car. The PRCS stayed in contact with Hind, as they attempted to gain permission from the IDF to send paramedics to the location to save her.
An investigation by Forensic Architecture later found that a total of 335 bullets were fired at the car and that the tank operators had a clear view of the two children inside the vehicle. This investigation also found that the IDF tank was placed only 13 to 23 meters away from the car of Hind's family. In just 6 seconds, 64 gunshots were fired on Hind's cousin, 15 year old Layan, while she was already on the call with the PRCS. Around 6 PM, PRCS paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun left Al-Ahli Hospital in an ambulance in order to rescue Hind. After they arrived at the location of the car, they were never heard from again. The last thing captured on a call between the two paramedics and the PRCS communication team was an explosion. Control room: Can you see the car? Ambulance: I can’t see a thing here. Control room: Do you have your siren and flashing lights on? Ambulance: Just the lights, not the siren. Ambulance: … oh there it is! [explosion] Two weeks after the attack, when the IDF finally evacuated the area, the decomposing bodies of Hind, Layan and their family members were discovered. A few meters away, the burnt out ambulance was found together with the remains of paramedics Yusuf and Ahmed. Why Hind Rajab Became a Symbol Hind Rajab’s story resonates far beyond her individual tragedy because it symbolizes the systemic cruelty and humiliation faced by Palestinians under occupation. Similar to thousands of children who were slain before and after her; the story of Hind Rajab gives a clear image of the highly intentional, collective punishment that Israel has been inflicting on civilians, especially children, as well as the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers. On January 29th 2024, the IDF’s genocidal intent was again on full display to the world, yet their actions went unpunished. “According to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, five-year-old Hind Rajab, her family, and the two paramedics who attempted to save Hind were all victims of a serious and complex crime that included multiple grave violations and war crimes.” (Euro-Med Monitor) The Hind Rajab Foundation chose Hind’s name carefully and deliberately; to confront and dismantle narratives that obscure the reality of these atrocities, ensuring that the voices of their victims are heard and remembered. The case of Hind Rajab and her family also became the namesake of several renamed university campuses during solidarity actions across the world in 2024. Most famously at Columbia University, where the "Hamilton Hall" was given the name "Hind's Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab. "Hind's Hall" is also the title of a single by Macklemore, which gained attention all over the globe, climbing the streaming charts. Macklemore pledged to donate all proceeds of the song to UNRWA (source). Honoring Hind’s Memory In a world that often seeks to normalize or ignore the suffering of Palestinians, we refuse to let Hind's story be erased or dismissed. Preserving Hind’s memory is a powerful act of resistance. It reminds us that these acts are not isolated but part of a deliberate and ongoing campaign of violence. Honoring Hind's memory means taking action to ensure that her murder—and the murder of so many others—is not forgotten. Since the killing of Hind Rajab one year ago, the situation in Gaza has become unbearable. The official death toll is estimated around 46,600 Palestinians killed, and at least 10,000 feared buried under rubble. The number of deaths is likely to be much higher, since the health care sector in Gaza has been destroyed by Israeli aggression, leaving many wounded unable to find treatment. Children have since died in Gaza not only by direct aggression of the IDF, but also by disease, starvation and freezing to death, due to not nearly enough aid reaching Gaza because the IDF, together with Israeli settlers, blocked all routes to deliver aid. With an uncertain but fragile ceasefire in effect, Palestinians can only now return to their homes and gather an image of the destruction. One year on since the murder of Hind Rajab, the world has failed to stop Israel's targeting of civilians, children, and health care workers. Genocidal intent has been just as clear in Israel's aggression in the year after Hind's murder as in her murder itself. The international community failed to let the outcry over the case of Hind be followed by meaningful international action against Israel in the form of sanctions, boycott or ceased relations to Israel and its partners. Our Mission: Offensive Litigation and Global Awareness The Hind Rajab Foundation, established during the ongoing Gaza genocide, was created to actively pursue legal action against those responsible for these atrocities, including perpetrators, accomplices, and inciters of violence against Palestinians. Our foundation honors the memory of Hind Rajab and all those who have perished or suffered under Israel's genocidal campaign. We are committed to ending Israeli impunity, achieving justice, and ensuring that the legacy of those lost is honored and no life is forgotten. To date, we filed a thousand cases at the ICC, and tens of cases all across the world in various jurisdictions, some we have communicated about, others not. Among recent cases, a criminal complaint filed in Brazil against Yuval Vagdani led to the Brazilian federal court ordering the federal police to conduct investigative measures against the soldier. This case represents historic legal development in international law; IDF soldiers who acted with impunity in Gaza, will not be able to travel without facing the risk of accountability for their actions. Some of most recent complaints were filed in Spain, Austria and Germany and Thailand. The actions of the Hind Rajab Foundation raise awareness to these cases by putting them under a spotlight. As citizens litigating for justice, we are not law enforcement and do not operate in secrecy. Transparency is our most effective tool. Oftentimes, these countries would have never taken action or felt compelled to do so without international and domestic public pressure. This scrutiny not only forces them to respond but also unmasks Israel’s unlawful conduct to evade justice. Exposing these violations is as important as the litigation itself, as it challenges the systems that enable impunity and ensures that accountability becomes unavoidable. For this reason, we need your support in getting our mission out into the world. Together, our global collective action can be the catalyst that prevents Israeli war criminals from escaping the consequences of their actions. Call to Action
Hind’s story, and those of countless others, must be told and preserved as part of the fight against the erasure of Palestinian suffering. Today, we call on the global community to stand with us—share Hind’s story, amplify her voice, and support the Hind Rajab Foundation in its commitment to the fight for justice and accountability. You can make a difference by helping us raise awareness through sharing our criminal cases, ensuring that these injustices are brought to light and the public pressure stays on where needed. For those who would like to support our work, we also welcome volunteers and donations. Together, we strive to ensure that justice is achieved for the victims of this genocide and that the war crimes committed by the IDF do not go unpunished. Comments are closed.
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MemoryPreserving memories is a powerful act of resistance, keeping the stories of those who have perished alive and ensuring their voices are heard.
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