Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab portrays the harrowing killing of the five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Northern Gaza. Director Kaouther Ben Hania uses the real audio recording of Hind Rajab’s distressed phone call to Ramallah’s Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on 29th January 2024. Kaouther Ben Hania has dramatized the situation in the PRCS call center by using actors. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) brutally killed Hind Rajab, her six family members, and two paramedics who came to the spot to rescue her. This harrowing killing shook the world, creating intense criticism of the IDF’s actions.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an order to evacuate the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Northern Gaza on 29th January 2024. Hind Rajab, her uncle, aunt, and four cousins boarded her uncle’s black car and attempted to flee. An approaching IDF war tank halted their journey and started shelling the car. Hind’s uncle, aunt, and three cousins were killed immediately. Another cousin, Layan Hamadeh, called the PRCS office in Ramallah and urged immediate rescue. Even though a PRCS rescue ambulance was just 8 min away from the spot, PRCS officials could not direct it to rescue them immediately as it needed approval from the IDF and the Gaza Health Ministry before approaching the spot. Hind’s cousin, Layan Hamadeh, was killed shortly. Hind reached out to PRCS officials, who stayed on the line with her until the ambulance arrived. The conversation lasted for more than three hours. However, the PRCS officials could not save Hind. IDF’s 401st Armored Brigade, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Beni Aharon, brutally killed Hind. IDF soldiers attacked the ambulance that came to Hind’s rescue with two paramedics, Yusuf and Ahmed, killing both of them. The world did not know the fate of the eight victims until their bodies were discovered on 10th February 2024 after the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israeli Forces fired 335 bullets at Hind’s uncle’s car. Though the Israeli government and IDF denied their involvement, this brutal killing incident drew intense criticism of their actions worldwide.
The children of Gaza have faced the most difficult phase of their lives after 7th October 2026. Israeli forces have killed more than 20000 children, more than 1000 infants, and injured more than 42000 children. More than 21000 children have been permanently disabled. About 97% of schools in Gaza have been closed, seizing educational opportunities of more than 650000 children. The food supply is unstable. Water is largely contaminated. The children of Gaza have been living in a hellish situation since Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza. The killing of Hind Rajab, her family members, and two paramedics is just a reflection of that genocide.