The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the introduction of the Justice for Hind Rajab Act, legislation introduced in the Senate by Sens. Peter Welch and Chris Van Hollen and in the House of Representatives by Sara Jacobs, Joaquin Castro, and Pramila Jayapal.
Learn More: Read the Justice for Hind Rajab Act Fact Sheet
The legislation calls for accountability for the Israeli military execution of five-year-old Palestinian child Hind Rajab and members of her family. Evidence shows Israeli soldiers fired more than 330 bullets into the vehicle in which Hind and her relatives were trapped after Israeli tank and machine-gun fire targeted their car as they attempted to flee Gaza City.
As the wounded child used a cell phone to beg for someone to save her, paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society who attempted to rescue her were also killed when their ambulance was struck in what was effectively an Israeli military ambush.
CAIR is urging all members of the House and Senate to co-sponsor and support the legislation and publicly call for a clear, credible, and transparent U.S. investigation into the killing of Hind Rajab, her family, and the medical personnel who attempted to rescue her.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“We welcome the introduction of the Justice for Hind Rajab Act and urge every member of Congress to support a full and transparent investigation. Five-year-old Hind Rajab should still be alive today. The evidence unquestionably shows that she and her family were not caught in crossfire but were effectively executed by Israeli soldiers as they tried to flee, and that her murderers then lay in wait to finish off the paramedics sent to rescue her.
“The only reason this crime has gone without justice is because the United States government has repeatedly turned a blind eye to the genocidal liquidation of Palestinian civilians. Congress must support a transparent investigation and ensure that those responsible are finally held accountable.
“Our nation cannot claim to stand for human rights and the rule of law while ignoring credible allegations of war crimes involving civilians, children, and medical personnel. Accountability is essential not only for justice in this case, but also to deter future atrocities.”
The killing of Hind Rajab drew international attention and became emblematic of Israel’s genocidal war targeting civilians in Gaza, particularly children. Hind’s story has been widely documented and was later the subject of the Oscar-nominated docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab, which follows volunteers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society as they attempt to rescue the young girl and her family.
CAIR has for years called for independent U.S. investigations when American citizens are killed by Israeli forces or illegal settlers and supported related initiatives like Congressman André Carson’s Justice for Shireen Act, which called for a U.S. investigation into the Israeli military murder of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Earlier this year, CAIR also called on the Trump administration to launch an independent investigation into the killing of Philadelphia Palestinian-American teenager Nasrallah Abu Siyam, in the occupied West Bank. CAIR has noted that Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 9 other American citizens in the past three years without any U.S. investigation or meaningful accountability.
CAIR has repeatedly urged U.S. officials to apply existing laws and investigative authorities when American citizens are killed in Israel and to ensure that those murdered receive justice.
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com