Gaza Herald _Democratic lawmakers in the United States have introduced new legislation requiring the State Department to clarify what steps it has taken to investigate the killing of Palestinian child Hind Rajab and whether any American citizens were involved, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.
The proposed legislation, titled the Justice for Hind Rajab Act, must still pass through committee reviews and debates in both chambers of Congress before it can be put to a vote. With Republicans controlling the legislature, the bill is expected to face significant political hurdles.
Rajab, a six-year-old girl from Gaza, was killed on 29 January 2024 in an incident involving Israeli soldiers. Her death has drawn widespread attention and has come to symbolise alleged violations of international humanitarian law during Israel’s war on Gaza, where Palestinian officials say more than 72,000 people have been killed.
The bill is being introduced in the Senate by Senator Peter Welch, while Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Sara Jacobs are sponsoring the legislation in the House. If approved, it would require the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 45 days detailing whether the circumstances surrounding Rajab’s death violated US laws governing military assistance abroad, including the Leahy Law and the Foreign Assistance Act.
The Leahy Law bars the United States from providing weapons or security assistance to foreign military units accused of committing serious human rights abuses. The State Department operates a special review mechanism known as the “Israel Leahy Vetting Forum” as part of this process.
Lawmakers are also seeking information about the Israeli soldiers allegedly involved in the incident, including whether any hold US citizenship. The proposed measure calls on the US government to disclose what it knows about the case and whether the Department of Justice has examined potential human rights violations.
According to the bill, the United States has provided more than $21.7bn in military aid to Israel since October 7, 2023, covering a significant portion of the costs of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. It also notes Israeli government estimates that around 10,000 individuals from the United States were mobilised to participate in the war. Meanwhile, figures cited from Gaza’s Health Ministry indicate that more than 20,000 children have been killed during the conflict.
When asked previously about investigations into Rajab’s killing and other alleged war crimes in Gaza, the Biden administration has largely referred journalists to Israeli authorities. Critics argue that relying on Israeli investigations risks delaying or avoiding accountability.
On the same day the bill was introduced, the US-based advocacy group A New Policy criticised Israel’s decision to drop a prosecution related to alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The organisation, founded by two former US officials who resigned over Washington’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, said the move demonstrated why independent investigations are necessary.
In a statement on social media, the group argued that Israel should not be solely responsible for investigating allegations against its own forces and called for greater international oversight, including action by the International Criminal Court and enforcement of the Leahy Law.
Film about Hind Rajab draws attention
The introduction of the bill coincides with growing international attention surrounding The Voice of Hind Rajab, a film about the child’s final hours. Last month, Jayapal and Welch hosted a screening of the Oscar-nominated production on Capitol Hill.
The film, which blends documentary and dramatized storytelling, follows events over 24 hours from a Palestinian Red Crescent Society call centre located outside Gaza. It depicts the attempts of emergency workers to rescue Rajab after she phoned for help.
An investigation published in June 2024 found that Rajab and five members of her family were hit by 335 bullets fired by Israeli forces while trying to flee northern Gaza in their car. Hind survived the initial attack and remained trapped in the vehicle with the bodies of her relatives for several hours.
She contacted the Palestinian Red Crescent seeking assistance, but two paramedics, Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun, were killed before they could reach her.
Audio recordings of Hind’s final phone call later circulated widely, capturing the child pleading for rescue and saying: “I’m scared of the dark, come get me.”
The recording became the central element of the film, which has already received several awards on the international festival circuit and is expected to compete strongly in the Oscars’ international film category.
Middle East Eye said it contacted Jayapal’s office for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
