ALBAWABA - According to early findings by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and testimonies gathered, a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and her relatives were killed by the Israeli army in broad daylight in Gaza City.
Euro-Med Monitor investigation Hind Rajab and five of her family members were riding in a civilian car in the Tal al-Hawa district in southern Gaza City on Monday, 29 January, at about 5 p.m., when they were targeted directly and repeated fire from the Israeli army artillery.
According to initial testimony gathered by the Euro-Med Monitor team, the car was shot after colliding with Israeli tanks and military vehicles. The family drove the car to a nearby gas station to seek refuge from bullets and shells.
After the Israeli army tanks left the area, the car was discovered with several gunshot wounds, broken glass, and substantial evidence of rounds fired directly at it.
Field investigations found that there appeared to be traces of Israeli army tanks on the road leading to the vehicle in which Hind and her family were targetted, and satellite imagery acquired just hours before the incident revealed that Israeli army military vehicles were 200 meters from the car's location.
Hind Rajab's viral distress call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS)
Hind was discovered dead on Saturday, 10 February, twelve days after placing a distress call while injured and held in the damaged car, with the remains of her relatives who had also been killed inside the vehicle. No one could reach her in time to save her.
Before Hind's phone call, her cousin, 15-year-old Layan Hamada, who was in the same car, called the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to request aid as they were encircled by Israeli tanks.
The call's audio recording includes audio fragments from the strong gunfire that hit the car. Layan's voice became dead after she shouted and was killed by bullets.
On the same day, the PRCS discovered the killing of two of its paramedics, Yousef Zaino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun, who were dispatched to rescue Hind after receiving her telephoned distress call and completing the security arrangements necessary by Israeli army troops to approve such operations.
The child's family claims that Hind fled their neighborhood in a black Kia car with her uncle, aunt, and three of her cousins after the Israeli army ordered residents to evacuate to the south during a ground incursion that lasted about two weeks and during which Israeli army forces imposed a strict siege.
