Israeli soldiers from 'Vampire Empire' company identified in Hind Rajab killing

The perpetrators of the killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in the Gaza Strip in January 2024 have been identified along with the military unit they served with as an investigation progresses.

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) says it has submitted the names of dozens of Israeli soldiers and the 'Vampire Empire Company' involved in last year’s killing of the young girl to the International Criminal Court.

These new details were featured in a documentary broadcast by Al Jazeera.

The killing of Hind on 29 January 2024 sparked a worldwide outcry, with demands for accountability and justice for her and her family.

She was initially the only survivor of an Israeli attack on her family's car as they attempted to flee Gaza City, before later being killed herself.

Hind had called paramedics and in a recording is heard pleading to be rescued. She remained on the call with the Palestinian Red Crescent for three hours before losing contact.

The ambulance crew were unable to get to her due to intense Israeli gunfire and their vehicle being targeted by Israeli forces.

Hind and two paramedics who tried to rescue her were killed before the volunteers could arrive, with the car being found riddled with bullet holes. Her body was found on 12 February.

The deaths brought increased attention to the war crimes committed by Israel during its two-year war.

The war is widely recognised to be a genocide, with more than 68,000 Palestinians killed, most of them women and children.

Vampire Empire

On Tuesday, the foundation announced the names of more soldiers and commanders involved in the slaughter of Hind, six members of her family, and two Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics.

A 120-page filing was submitted to the ICC, which already has arrest warrants out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for  war crimes in Gaza.

HRF says the filing provides detailed evidence identifying the so-called Vampire Empire Company, a nickname given to a unit within the Israeli military.

It is part of the 52nd Armoured Battalion operating under Israel’s 401st Armoured Brigade, and now has been brought to the limelight with the investigation into Hind's case.

The unit is commanded by Major Sean Glass, who is believed to be directly linked to Hind's killing, along with the Commander of the 52nd Armoured Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Ella.

Other individuals identified are Commander of the 401st Armoured Brigade, Colonel Beni Aharon, and a tank crew member, Itay Cukierkopf.

HRF added that the remaining 22 names were submitted to the ICC confidentially "and will be made public progressively, as national-level complaints are filed in different jurisdictions."

The case included digital, satellite, and forensic evidence that confirms the Vampire Empire Company used Merkava IV tanks to repeatedly fire on the car Hind was trapped in with her family, as well as the ambulance that was dispatched to try and rescue her.

"The attacks were carried out with full knowledge of the victims' civilian and protected status, following prior coordination between the Palestinian Red Crescent and Israeli authorities," HRF said.

"The Foundation’s legal team concludes that these acts amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, under Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Rome Statute," it added.

Bringing Israeli dual nationals to justice

The foundation added that it was also going after Israeli nationals abroad who hold dual citizenship.

Tank crew member Cukierkopf is one of these people, as a case has already been filed against him in Argentina.

HRF revealed that other cases were being prepared in Latin America, North America, and Europe.

It has called on the ICC to include the Vampire Empire Company in its mandate and issue arrest warrants for the dozens of new Israeli military personnel named.

HRF told The New Arab that the next steps involve cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, as well as the continuation of parallel national cases under both universal jurisdiction and dual nationality frameworks.

"These filings are designed to ensure that the perpetrators face accountability before every competent legal forum, wherever jurisdiction allows," it said.

"As for the 22 confidential names, they have been submitted to the ICC under seal to protect the integrity of the judicial process and the safety of individuals involved. Their identities will be made public progressively, as corresponding national complaints are filed in the relevant jurisdictions. This phased disclosure strategy is a deliberate legal decision to ensure due process, security, and precision," it added.

Concluding its statement to TNA, HRF said, "At this stage, the Foundation will not be commenting on specific evidentiary details beyond what is already reflected in our public statement. What matters now is that the case moves forward in court — not in speculation."

The Hind Rajab Foundation focuses on legal action against the perpetrators and accomplices in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Pro-Palestine protesters in the US renamed Hamilton Hall at Columbia University to "Hind’s Hall" in solidarity with the six-year-old. US rapper Macklemore also released a protest song with the same name in support of the protests and to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

'The Voice of Hind Rajab', a docudrama the little girl’s killing, won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival in September.