US Representative Rashida Tlaib has called on the US government to arrest and investigate an Israeli soldier allegedly linked to the killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza, citing Washington's obligations under international conventions, reports Al Jazeera.
In a social media post on Monday (19 October), Tlaib said reports indicated that the soldier, Sean Glass, was in the United States and urged authorities to investigate his alleged involvement in the January 2024 killings.
"As a party to the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions, our government is obligated to arrest and investigate him for these war crimes and acts of genocide," she wrote.
Tlaib also shared a statement by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), which said it had submitted an emergency request to the US Department of Justice seeking Glass's arrest.
The foundation alleged that Glass commanded the "Vampire Empire" company, which it linked to the deaths of Hind, members of her family and the paramedics sent to rescue them.
Its investigation placed Glass and his troops in the vicinity of the family's vehicle at the time of the incident, the organisation said, calling on US authorities to bring him to justice. The allegations have not been established through a judicial ruling.
Killing sparked international outrage
Hind was killed on 29 January 2024, after the vehicle carrying her family came under Israeli fire as they attempted to flee Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera.
Members of her family were killed in the shooting, while Hind remained on the phone with emergency services, pleading for help. Recordings of her calls, including her appeal, "I'm so scared. Please come!", drew international attention.
The paramedics who attempted to reach her were also killed.
The vehicle was found riddled with hundreds of bullet holes. Israeli authorities initially attributed the incident to an exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters.
However, an investigation by research agency Forensic Architecture found no evidence of an exchange of fire and concluded that Israeli forces were the only military presence in the area at the time.
Israel has opened an investigation into the killings, but Palestinian advocates have questioned whether domestic investigations can ensure accountability for alleged abuses by Israeli forces.
Wider calls for accountability
Hind's killing has become a prominent case in calls for accountability over civilian deaths during Israel's war on Gaza.
United Nations experts and human rights organisations have described Israel's assault on Gaza as genocide, while Israel has rejected such allegations.
The United States has continued to provide Israel with diplomatic and military support amid mounting international scrutiny of its conduct in Gaza.
Washington has also criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.