Israel’s military announced Wednesday that it has opened its first criminal investigations into the conduct of troops during the Gaza war, focusing on two high-profile incidents that sparked widespread international condemnation.

The investigations will examine the killing of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and members of her family in February 2024, as well as the deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics in March 2025.

Hind was trapped inside a vehicle alongside relatives who had been killed and made desperate phone calls seeking help before she was also found dead. Her case drew international attention and demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the family’s deaths.

In the second case, 15 Palestinian emergency and medical workers were killed during an Israeli military operation. Their bodies were later buried by troops in a mass grave, prompting further international scrutiny.

The Israeli military said it had reviewed about 150 incidents involving the conduct of its forces in Gaza and had reached decisions in five cases.

However, it said it would not open criminal investigations into three other attacks involving humanitarian workers, including incidents in which personnel from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders were killed.

World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés criticized that decision, describing it in a post on X as “wrong and painful.”

The announcement represents the Israeli military’s first move to pursue criminal investigations into troop conduct during the Gaza conflict, following sustained international pressure for accountability over civilian and humanitarian-worker deaths.