Kaouther Ben Hania, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” has dismissed Israel’s newly announced investigation into the death of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl as inadequate and performative. The Israeli military confirmed this week that its forces fired upon a vehicle carrying Rajab and members of her family in January 2024. The child subsequently died following a distressing three-hour conversation with the Palestinian Red Cross in which she sought assistance, while an ambulance dispatched for her rescue was also targeted, resulting in the deaths of two paramedics.
The Israeli Defense Forces had previously denied any involvement in the incident, but independent media investigations uncovered evidence implicating nearby Israeli tanks. The case gained international prominence and sparked widespread condemnation. The military announced it would conduct a criminal investigation into alleged coordination failures regarding the ambulance, more than two years after the killing occurred.
Ben Hania challenged the announcement through a social media statement, arguing that substantial evidence—including satellite imagery, ballistic analysis, and Rajab’s own recorded testimony describing Israeli military vehicles—has existed for years. She questioned why the military’s self-investigation was necessary given the existing documentation. The filmmaker concluded by emphasizing that genuine accountability from an independent body is what justice demands for Rajab and other victims affected by the conflict in Gaza.
Originally reported by Variety →
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