Six-year-old Hind Rajab, who went missing after her family's car was shot at by Israeli tanks in besieged Gaza, has been found dead, Palestinian health ministry officials confirmed.
Hind was presumed alive after a desperate call for help from her cousin. "Hind and everyone else in the car is martyred," her grandfather lamented. The grim discovery was made by family members near a petrol station where the car had last been spotted. The Israeli military did not comment on the incident.
Hind's death adds to the mounting toll in Gaza, where Israel's military offensive has killed at least 28,000 people and left over 67,600 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health.
In this tragedy, Israel plans to escalate its attacks on Rafah, despite warnings from the US and UN. Displaced Palestinians, already reeling from the devastation, face further peril as Israeli forces target the last refuge for many.
The US cautioned against a large-scale offensive into Rafah, citing the catastrophic consequences for civilians. Talks for a truce mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt have yielded no tangible results. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations warn of a worsening crisis, with millions at risk of starvation and over 600,000 children displaced.
The situation in Gaza has drawn international condemnation, with the International Court of Justice issuing provisional measures to prevent genocidal acts and allow more humanitarian aid. As the conflict escalates, the world watches with apprehension, fearing the humanitarian nightmare will worsen, with untold regional consequences.