Israeli forces ‘deliberately’ targeted medics sent to rescue Palestinian girl: PRCS

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the Gaza Strip has said Israeli forces deliberately targeted the ambulance it sent to rescue a six-year-old Palestinian girl called Hind Rajab almost two weeks ago.

PRCS made the annoucement in a statement on Saturday, after Hind was found dead earlier in the day along with several of her relatives and two paramedics who tried to save her. She had gone missing after the family’s car came under Israeli fire in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City.

“The occupation deliberately targeted the Red Crescent crew despite prior coordination to allow the ambulance to arrive at the site to rescue Hind,” the group said.

On January 29, Hind was traveling in a car with her uncle Bahsar Hamada, his wife, and their four children, fleeing the brutal bombardment by the Israeli regime.

On their way, Hamada’s car was stopped by the Israeli military. The stoppage was followed by a shower of bullets at Hamada’s car, which killed him, his wife, and three of their children on the spot.

Layan Hamada, 15, survived with her cousin Hind. Layan was shot dead as she was speaking on the phone with the PRCS crew while Hind was still trapped inside the vehicle.

Around 6 pm local time, the PRCS team reached the area to rescue Hind who as per the last update remained trapped alone in a car with the dead bodies of her uncle, aunt, and cousins scattered around her.

The PRCS team had informed and coordinated with the Israeli authorities before dispatching an ambulance to the location but the NGO lost all contact with its crew after the team went to retrieve the girl.

Since then, demands for answers have been mounting over the fate of Hind and the PRCS medical workers.

Paramedics from the PRCS managed on Saturday to reach the area. They found the car Hind had been traveling in. Hind was among the six bodies found inside the car, all of which showed signs of gunfire and shelling.