CNN
5-year-old Hind, who was trapped in a car with her relatives’ bodies, has been found dead.
CNN
—
A 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was found deceased after being trapped in a car with her deceased relatives after it came under Israeli fire in Gaza last month.
On January 29, Hind Rajab was traveling in a car with her uncle, his wife, and their four children, escaping fighting in northern Gaza, when they came under Israeli fire, as confirmed by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
According to Khader Al Za’anoun, a Palestinian journalist working for CNN who spoke to the child’s grandfather, “The child [Hind Rajab] and everyone in the car were found killed by the Israeli Army near the Fares petrol station in the Tal Al-Hawa area, southwest of Gaza City, after about two weeks of her unknown fate due to the Israeli military operation in the area.”
The PRCS also confirmed the deaths of two ambulance workers dispatched to rescue the girl.
“The occupation deliberately targeted the Red Crescent crew despite obtaining prior coordination to allow the ambulance to reach the location to rescue the girl Hind,” read the statement.
Following the incident, CNN provided the Israeli military with details about the incident last Friday, including coordinates provided by the Palestine Red Crescent Society. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they were “unfamiliar with the incident described.”
Upon further contact by CNN, the IDF said they were “still looking into it.”
Hind’s cousin, 15-year-old Layan Hamadeh, made a desperate call for help to emergency services that was recorded by the PRCS and shared on social media. Audio of gunshots heard during the call revealed that Hamadeh was killed while making the call.
Layan can be heard saying, “They are shooting at us. The tank is right next to me. We’re in the car, the tank is right next to us,” amid intense gunfire in the background.
After a moment of silence, the paramedic on the phone repeatedly attempts to communicate with her, but there is no response.
Alone, terrified, and trapped in the car with the bodies of her relatives, Hind made a desperate plea for help.
“Come take me. Will you come and take me? I’m so scared, please come!” Hind can be heard saying in a recording of the call to responders, released by the PRCS.
Hind’s mother Wissam Hamada said that her daughter dreamed of becoming a doctor.
On Friday, she told CNN she was “waiting for her every second. I wish for her all the best, like any mother wishes for her daughter the best things and the nicest things in the world.”
