Israeli Commander Faces ICC Complaint Over Gaza Child Killing

2025-05-05 08:09:04

(MENAFN) A human rights organization has lodged a war crime complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against an Israeli military commander in connection with the death of a six-year-old Palestinian girl in the Gaza Strip. The complaint centers on the January 29, 2024, incident in Gaza City where Hind Rajab and six of her relatives were killed when their vehicle was struck by Israeli tank fire.

The Hind Rajab Foundation stated on Saturday that their ICC filing targets Lt. Col. Beni Aharon, who commanded the Israeli army’s 401st Armored Brigade at the time of the incident. According to the foundation, the child lay bleeding for three hours at the scene as paramedics were unable to reach her due to heavy Israeli fire, ultimately leading to her death.

“It was under Lt. Col. Aharon’s command that an Israeli tank unit attacked the civilian vehicle of Hind's family, and later destroyed the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance dispatched to rescue her,” the foundation asserted.

The rights group further stated, “We also confirm that the battalion operating under his authority in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood on 29 January 2024 has been fully identified, along with its field commanders and operational officers. These men are no longer unknown. They are no longer protected by silence.”

The Brussels-based organization is urging the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli commander and indicated that they are preparing further legal actions against other officers within the Israeli battalion.

“Today, Hind should have been blowing out candles,” noted Dyab Abou Jahjah, chairman of the foundation. “Instead, we are naming her killer. This is only the beginning. We are coming for every name, every link in the chain, with the law and with truth.”

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