'Israeli' battalion commander linked to Hind Rajab case killed in Lebanon

• 'Israeli' battalion commander killed in south Lebanon reignites scrutiny over unit linked to Hind Rajab killing case in Gaza.

The 'Israeli' military’s announcement that a battalion commander was killed in southern Lebanon has renewed scrutiny of the same unit previously linked to the killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza.

In a statement on Friday, the 'Israeli' army said Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade, was killed along with three soldiers after their tank was struck during operations in southern Lebanon.

According to "The Times of Israel", Ben Simhon is the fourth commander of the 52nd Battalion to be killed or wounded since the start of 'Israel’s' wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The 52nd Battalion has drawn international attention over its alleged role in the January 2024 killing of Hind Rajab in Gaza City, when 'Israeli' forces struck the vehicle carrying the child and several relatives.

Rajab reportedly survived the initial strike and remained trapped inside the car while speaking by phone with emergency dispatchers, according to documented accounts. An ambulance sent to rescue her was subsequently hit, killing the paramedics. Her body was recovered 12 days later.

The case has become one of the most widely documented incidents from the Gaza war and has been cited in international legal and human rights discussions.

In May 2025, the Hind Rajab Foundation, based in Belgium, filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against former 52nd Battalion commander Daniel Ela and 401st Brigade commander Col. Beni Aharon, accusing them of war crimes over the deaths of Rajab, her family members, and the ambulance crew.

The battalion has undergone several leadership changes since the outbreak of the war. 'Israeli' media reports cited by "The Times of Israel" said former commander Daniel Ela was recalled to temporary service in southern Lebanon after another commander was wounded. Ela himself was previously injured in Gaza in July 2024 and succeeded by Lt. Col. Yehuda Shalev, who was also seriously wounded later that year. His replacement in Lebanon was also injured before Ben Simhon assumed command.

Channel 14 in 'Israel' has previously reported that Ela commanded the battalion on three separate occasions since October 2023.

An investigation published by Al Jazeera in October identified Ela and Aharon among Israeli officers involved in operations linked to the killing of Hind Rajab, her relatives, and the emergency responders dispatched to rescue them.

The war in Gaza, launched by 'Israel' in October 2023, has resulted in heavy civilian casualties, according to Palestinian health authorities, which say more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 173,000 injured. Much of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has also been destroyed.

A ceasefire has been in place since October 10, 2025, though both sides have accused each other of violations and continued attacks, with reports of more than 1,000 additional deaths and thousands of injuries since the truce began.