On Her Birthday, HRF Files Lawsuit Against Israeli Soldier Who Killed Her
Brussels (Quds News Network)- The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has announced it has filed a war crimes complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against the Israeli soldier responsible for the murder of Hind Rajab. The lawsuit was filed on what should have been the 7th birthday of the little girl.
The foundation said that this action follows a year-long investigation that identified the military unit and commander responsible for the brutal crime that claimed Hind’s life, along with those of her family members and two medics who attempted to assist her.
The HRF has publicly named Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Beni Aharon as the commander accountable for Hind’s death. At the time of the incident, he led the 401st Armored Brigade of the Israeli military. Under his command, an Israeli tank unit targeted Hind’s family vehicle and subsequently attacked the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance that was dispatched to provide aid.
The foundation has also identified the battalion operating under Aharon’s command in Tel al-Hawa neighborhood on January 29, 2024, along with its field commanders and operational officers. These individuals are now publicly recognized and will no longer remain shielded by anonymity.
While the HRF calls for the ICC Office of the Prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant for Lt. Col. Aharon, they are also preparing additional legal actions against other officers within the battalion. These complaints will be filed in national jurisdictions based on universal jurisdiction principles. The foundation aims to hold accountable all individuals involved—those who issued orders, those who executed them, and those who facilitated the cover-up.
“Today, Hind should have been celebrating her birthday. Instead, we are naming her killer,” stated Dyab Abou Jahjah. “This is just the beginning. We will pursue every individual involved, using both legal avenues and the truth.”
On January 29, 2024, Israeli tank fire struck Hind Rajab’s vehicle, resulting in the immediate deaths of six family members. Hind, injured and frightened, remained alive for hours, pleading for help with the Palestine Red Crescent Society dispatchers. Tragically, the ambulance sent to rescue her was also attacked by Israeli soldiers, killing the two medics inside. When rescue teams returned ten days later, they discovered Hind’s body alongside her cousin Layan.
The HRF has built the case on extensive research conducted over the past year, incorporating findings from organizations such as Forensic Architecture and Sky News. They have compiled the necessary evidence for judicial action and are urging the courts to respond with urgency and resolve.
