Tunisian director to tell haunting story of Hind Rajab in new movie

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania is directing a new drama based on the harrowing story of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza after being trapped for hours in a vehicle targeted by "Israeli" forces, Variety reported.

The upcoming project, which remains untitled, is being filmed discreetly in Tunisia. It is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, known for Four Daughters, along with Oscar-winning producers Odessa Rae (Navalny) and James Wilson (The Zone of Interest). The film is backed by Film4.

Hind Rajab’s death drew international outrage. On Jan. 29, 2024, her family’s car was hit while they were trying to escape northern Gaza. Her uncle, aunt, and three cousins were killed instantly. Hind, still alive, was left trapped in the car for hours, pleading for help over the phone with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Paramedics who attempted to reach her were also killed. Their bodies, along with Hind’s, were discovered on February 10, after "Israeli" forces withdrew from the area.

Although "Israeli" authorities initially denied responsibility, dozens of investigations, including those by The Washington Post and Sky News, contradicted those claims. Using satellite imagery and video analysis, both outlets concluded that "Israeli" tanks had targeted the vehicle with hundreds of rounds. Further analysis by Forensic Architecture also found it likely that an "Israeli" tank struck the ambulance dispatched to rescue Hind.

The case became a powerful symbol of the toll "Israel’s" military campaign has taken on Palestinian civilians. Hind Rajab’s name has since been invoked in global protests, including by student demonstrators at Columbia University who renamed occupied campus buildings in her honor.

Ben Hania, widely recognized as one of the Arab world’s leading filmmakers, is no stranger to politically resonant storytelling. Her film The Man Who Sold His Skin was nominated for an Oscar in 2021, and her 2024 documentary Four Daughters was shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature. This latest project marks a return to narrative drama — one grounded in a real-life tragedy that has galvanized international attention.