Two years ago, on this day, then five-year-old Hind Rajab was murdered along with her entire family by the Israeli Defense Forces. Hind survived the initial attack but was trapped and surrounded by the bodies of her family, with blood heavily oozing out from them. Her voice, cries for help, and pain were captured during a live call to emergency services.
The murder happened when she and her family were trying to escape; an IDR unit launched a spate of shooting at their car.
As they were trying to escape in their Kia Picanto, an IDF unit began shooting at their car. Hind’s cousin, fifteen-year-old Layan Hamada, made a desperate call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), saying they were under fire, that a tank was approaching, and that everyone in the vehicle except her and Hind had been killed. Moments later, gunshots were heard again, after which Layan’s screams abruptly stopped.
Hind was left as the sole survivor—gravely injured, alone, and trapped inside the car. The PRCS remained in contact with Hind while seeking permission from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to dispatch paramedics to the location in an effort to rescue her.
“335 bullets were fired at the car”
An investigation by Forensic Architecture revealed that a total of 335 bullets were fired at the car and that the operators were aware that the two children were inside the vehicle. The investigation further found that the IDF tank was positioned just 13 to 23 meters from the family’s car. It also concluded that 64 rounds were fired within six seconds at Hind’s 15-year-old cousin, Layan, while she was still on the phone with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
At around 6 pm, PRCS paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun departed Al-Ahli Hospital in an ambulance to rescue Hind. After reaching the location of the car, they were never heard from again. The final audio captured during a call between the paramedics and the PRCS communications team was the sound of 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!”
