HRF Calls for US Justice Action Against Commander Linked to Hind Rajab’s Death

HRF Calls for US Justice Action Against Commander Linked to Hind Rajab’s Death

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 21, 2026

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has urgently requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate, arrest, and prosecute Sean Glass, a former commander in an Israeli military unit. HRF alleges that Glass is responsible for war crimes and genocide during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, specifically linking his command to the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family in January 2024.

According to HRF, Glass, who commanded the “Vampire Empire” Company of the 52nd Armored Battalion in the Israeli military’s 401st Armored Brigade, is currently in the United States. The Brussels-based foundation urges U.S. authorities to pursue the case under federal statutes governing war crimes and genocide.

The allegations against Glass include unlawful killings, torture, inhuman treatment, unlawful transfer, and extensive destruction of property without military necessity. HRF’s investigation focuses on the killing of Hind Rajab, her family members, and two Palestinian Red Crescent medics dispatched to their rescue. The foundation’s findings indicate that the 52nd Battalion was the only Israeli armored unit operating in the area at the time of the incident and that Glass’s company was positioned within hundreds of meters of the family’s vehicle. HRF asserts this proximity suggests Glass likely issued the order to open fire. The foundation’s evidence is drawn from geolocated imagery, forensic analysis, and Glass’s own published materials. It is important to note that these allegations of individual responsibility have not yet been adjudicated by a court.

HRF’s submission further details Glass’s alleged role in military operations that resulted in damage or destruction of significant civilian infrastructure across Gaza, including Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters, residential areas in Gaza City, and the Rafah border crossing.

The foundation cites public statements from Glass, in which he reportedly described the destruction caused by his company and expressed a desire to resume combat post-ceasefire. One post, marking seven years in the military, allegedly described Al-Shifa as a “terror nest” and included satellite imagery comparing the medical complex before and after its destruction. In a farewell address to his company, Glass reportedly stated his troops had destroyed every part of their assigned areas, referencing the displacement of residents from the Zeitoun neighborhood. HRF argues these statements, combined with its forensic evidence, warrant a criminal investigation into his potential responsibility for alleged crimes in Gaza.

The destruction of medical facilities, civilian infrastructure, and residential areas has been a prominent feature of the devastation in Gaza during the conflict. However, establishing individual criminal responsibility requires a thorough assessment of evidence, operational circumstances, and applicable law.

This request to the U.S. Department of Justice is part of a broader legal effort by the Hind Rajab Foundation to pursue accountability for alleged crimes committed by Israeli military personnel in Gaza. HRF has previously submitted material regarding Glass and other soldiers to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and filed criminal complaints with judicial authorities in other countries.

Jake Romm, HRF’s U.S. representative, emphasized that this filing offers an opportunity for Washington to demonstrate its commitment to accountability for alleged war crimes. Natacha Bracq, HRF’s head of litigation, reiterated the comprehensive nature of the evidence compiled. Dyab Abou Jahjah, HRF’s director general, identified Glass as the commander most likely responsible for ordering the shooting of the vehicle carrying Hind and her relatives.

The foundation affirmed its commitment to pursuing cases through both national courts and international legal institutions, asserting that individuals suspected of serious crimes should not be able to travel freely without scrutiny of the allegations against them.

*             *             *

Your support fuels our fearless journalism.

To advertise with us, please contact us today at: nationweek@yahoo.com.

You can also make a donation via GCash at: +639267015155.