Regulation

Investigation into the Killing of Hind Rajab

A recent documentary has unveiled new evidence concerning the death of Hind Rajab, her family, and the rescue team attempting to reach them in Gaza City.

The documentary, Ma Khafiya Aatham (Tip of the Iceberg), presents newly disclosed details regarding the incident, which occurred in the last days of January 2024.

Incident Overview

The final hours of Hind Rajab, following an initial attack that resulted in the death of her uncle, aunt, and three cousins, have been widely shared on social media. The Israeli government initially stated that none of its forces were present during the incident but later attributed the 335 bullet holes in the family’s car to an exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters.

An investigation conducted by Forensic Architecture, based at Goldsmiths, University of London, utilized satellite imagery and audio data to identify several Israeli Merkava tanks near the Rajab family’s vehicle, with no evidence of an exchange of fire.

Military and Legal Developments

Colonel Beni Aharon of Israel’s 401 Armoured Brigade was the commanding officer of the tanks involved. A criminal complaint against him has been filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the Hind Rajab Foundation. The foundation uses footage from Israeli soldiers’ social media accounts as evidence in war crimes prosecutions.

The foundation’s investigation implicated the “Vampire Empire” company within the 401st Brigade, under Major Sean Glass, in both the killing and subsequent tampering with the crime scene. The company is part of the 52nd Armoured Battalion led by Colonel Daniel Ella, alleged to have direct responsibility for the incident.

Itay Choukirkov, a dual Israeli-Argentine national and a soldier from the company, is currently facing legal action under Argentinian law for his alleged involvement.

Operational Context

The 52nd Armoured Battalion, known as Ha-Bok’im (The Breachers), was among the first units to enter Gaza in October 2023. It has participated in significant operations, including hospital destructions.

The Hind Rajab Foundation is pursuing further legal actions against other Israeli soldiers, including Shimon Zuckerman, who documented the razing of Khuza’a village. The foundation claims these actions provide evidence of genocidal intent.