Israel’s Military Launches First Criminal Investigations Into Gaza Troop Conduct

Israel’s military announced its initial criminal investigations into troop conduct in Gaza, focusing on the killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian paramedics. However, no probe will address three additional attacks that killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. The military has reviewed 150 incidents in Gaza and made decisions regarding five specific cases.

Chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, criticized the decision on social media as “wrong and painful.” The incidents under investigation involve killings that prompted international outrage. Hind Rajab was trapped in a vehicle with her deceased relatives when the attack occurred in February 2024. After the shooting of 15 medics in March 2025, troops bulldozed the bodies into a mass grave. Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in more than 73,000 casualties, including numerous women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Various rights groups and U.N. commissions claim the campaign equates to genocide, accusing Israeli forces of war crimes such as the indiscriminate use of force and deliberate targeting of civilians.

Israel denies allegations of genocide and war crimes, asserting their operations target Hamas following its October 2023 assault on southern Israel. They attribute civilian casualties to Hamas operating in densely populated areas in Gaza.

Israeli authorities insist the country’s legal system can address any troop violations, yet rights groups argue soldiers rarely face accountability. The military’s statement did not mention other high-profile killings Israel has promised to investigate, such as airstrikes at a hospital in southern Gaza that claimed the lives of five journalists in August 2025, including freelancer Mariam Dagga.

Hind Rajab’s grandmother expressed that Israel’s investigation is insufficient, demanding an international probe to uncover the truth and hold all responsible parties accountable. The military admitted to targeting the car carrying Hind, her relatives, and paramedics, as they fled an Israeli invasion. The incident was partially documented on a call with the Palestinian Red Crescent center, during which more gunfire was heard, and screams silenced.

Palestinian paramedics sent an ambulance to save Hind, remaining in contact until communication ceased. Hind, her relatives, and two medics from the ambulance were later discovered dead. The military confessed to targeting the ambulance, resulting in the medics’ deaths. Dyab Abou Jahjah, director of the Hind Rajab Foundation, deemed the investigations a “charade” meant to exonerate rather than convict. The Palestinian Red Crescent also demands an international investigation.

A docudrama, “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” depicts the tragedy and has received international accolades, including an Oscar nomination. The investigation surrounding the paramedics’ killings reveals Israeli troops fired at an ambulance heading to attend to casualties from an Israeli offensive in Rafah. Footage and survivor accounts indicated the troops then targeted incoming emergency responders, ultimately bulldozing over bodies and vehicles. U.N. and rescue efforts uncovered the scene a week later.

The initial military justification cited suspicious vehicle movements lacking headlights or signals, yet retracted following footage showing vehicles with emergency lights and visible logos. A deputy commander stepped down following the killings.

Eid Azizi of the Palestinian Red Crescent insists the truth is evident worldwide, stressing adherence to international humanitarian law could have prevented current events.

The military decided against pursuing criminal charges concerning an April 2024 airstrike on World Central Kitchen’s convoy, which resulted in seven staffers’ deaths. Although the aid group had coordinated the vehicles’ movement, marked clearly with logos, the military claimed a misidentification of vehicle occupants as armed Hamas operatives.

World Central Kitchen disputes the military’s account of the event, requesting an independent investigation. Similarly, the military will not take action over incidents involving Doctors Without Borders staff in November 2023 and February 2024.

Ongoing military investigations will be conducted, with findings presented to military prosecutors. The military advocate general may continue investigations, file charges, or dismiss cases. Tal Steiner from the Israeli rights group HaMoked highlights the rarity of indictments and convictions, referencing one soldier who served seven months under a plea deal for abusing Palestinian prisoners.

Statistics from Israeli rights group Yesh Din show a mere 0.17% of military probes from operations in Gaza between 2014 and 2022 resulted in prosecution.

The conflict initiated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, in southern Israel and captured 251 others. Gaza has experienced continued Israeli airstrikes despite a ceasefire, causing over 1,270 casualties, as reported by the Health Ministry in Hamas’ administration. According to the ministry, while casualty details are scarce, women and children represent roughly half of the fatalities.

The Associated Press contributor Erin Cunningham in Jerusalem also contributed to this report.