The commander of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalion implicated in the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza has been seriously wounded in Lebanon – and replaced by the soldier who was in charge of the unit at the time of her murder.

The injured commander, who took over the role after Rajab’s killing in 2024, was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter yesterday after sustaining severe injuries during “operational activity” in the south of the country, according to the IDF.

He was not identified in the statement but was leading the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion before being hospitalised.

At the time of Rajab’s death, the battalion’s commander was lieutenant colonel Daniel Ella, who has now temporarily returned to the leadership role in place of the commander who was injured, the Times of Israel reported.

Ella is accused of direct involvement in Rajab’s killing in a complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by lawyers from the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF). The 120-page filing cites satellite evidence that it says shows Israeli Merkava IV tanks fired at the child’s vehicle.

Some outlets initially reported that it was Ella who was injured in Lebanon, but the new details published by Israeli media indicate he has been in and out of the role due to injuries – both his and others’ – since July 2024.

He has not commented publicly on HRF’s ICC filing against him. The IDF has claimed, contrary to extensive evidence, that its troops did not appear to be in the area of Gaza City where Rajab’s body was found on 29 January 2024.

Rajab was killed along with six of her family members when an Israeli tank fired 335 rounds at the vehicle they were travelling in. A tank then fired at an ambulance that came to help them, killing two paramedics.

After her six relatives were killed, Rajab was stranded in the car and spoke for hours on the phone to Palestine Red Crescent Society paramedics.

“Come and get me,” she told them. “I’m so scared, please come.” She was found dead on 10 February after the IDF withdrew from the area.

HRF’s founder, Dyab Abou Jahjah, said on Tuesday that the 52nd was “arguably the most brutal armored battalion in the IDF”.

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