US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has called for the arrest of Israeli military commander Sean Glass in connection with the death of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza. Tlaib’s appeal comes after reports suggested that Glass is currently in the United States, and she urged the US government to investigate his role in Rajab’s killing.
In a social media post, Tlaib stated, “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.” Her post included a report from the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), which monitors Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes.
The HRF has submitted an emergency request to the US Department of Justice to arrest Glass, claiming he commanded the “Vampire Empire” Company, which was involved in the attack that killed Rajab, several family members, and medics attempting a rescue.
Rajab was shot on 29 January 2024, while her family was trying to flee Gaza City, and her death has sparked international outrage. Recordings of her panicked call for help became widely circulated, as both she and the rescuers were ultimately killed by Israeli fire.
Investigations revealed that her vehicle was hit by 335 bullets, but Israeli authorities initially attributed this to a firefight with Palestinian fighters. A subsequent investigation by Forensic Architecture found no evidence of such an exchange, suggesting that only Israeli forces were present.
While Israel has launched an inquiry into the incident, such investigations are often viewed by Palestinians as attempts to evade accountability. The UN and various human rights organisations have labelled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, with reports indicating that over 74,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,000 children, have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Despite evidence of alleged war crimes, the US continues to offer diplomatic, military, and economic support to Israel. The US has also condemned the International Criminal Court for seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on war crime charges.
