Hind Rajab’s death has already been forgotten. That’s exactly what Israel wants | Owen Jones

The Israeli state has applied its usual strategy after this atrocity: deny, deflect, deceive, and wait for attention to move elsewhere

If you are ever in doubt about the nature of Israel's onslaught against Gaza, remember this little girl. Hind Rajab was a five-year-old Palestinian with an adorable smile. On the morning of 29 January, she got in a Kia Picanto along with her aunt, uncle and several cousins. They were seeking to flee the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City. The Israeli military fired on the car, killing everyone inside except for Hind and her 15-year-old cousin, Layan. A terrified Layan answered a call from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), informing them that a tank was firing on the car: in the recording, you hear her tortured screams as she is shot dead. When the PRCS rang back, Hind answered, now the only survivor, surrounded by the bloodied corpses of her six relatives. She also referred to a tank and begged to be rescued. At one point she told the operator it was getting dark and that she was scared.

After hours waiting for permission, the ministry of health negotiated safe access with the Israeli authorities for an ambulance. The paramedics arrived at about 6pm and were shot upon arrival. Two weeks later, their remains were recovered - along with the decomposed bodies of Hind and her family.