GAZA, Feb 10: The lifeless body of a six-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who had been missing for 12 agonizing days, was discovered along with the bodies of two medics who were on a rescue mission after an Israeli tank targeted their family car in Gaza. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the girl's family confirmed the tragic deaths of all seven occupants of the vehicle. Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun, PRCS crew members, were among the casualties of the Israeli attack on civilians in Gaza City.

According to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa, family members found Hind's body, along with those of her uncle, aunt, and their three children, near a roundabout in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa suburb. Hind's uncle, Sameeh Hamadeh, noted that the car bore numerous bullet holes, indicating the severity of the attack.

The PRCS issued a statement accusing the Israeli military of deliberately targeting the ambulance sent to rescue Hind and her family. Despite prior coordination to ensure safe access, the ambulance crew was attacked, exacerbating the already dire situation.

Earlier, the PRCS released an audio recording in which Hind could be heard pleading for help during a three-hour phone call with a member of the rescue team. Tragically, all her family members are believed to have been killed before her, leaving her alone and terrified amidst their corpses.

Israeli military initially claimed ignorance of the incident. The PRCS, in a bid to draw attention to the plight of Palestinian healthcare workers facing constant attacks, had been counting the hours since losing contact with Hind and the rescue team.

In a heart-wrenching audio clip released earlier, Hind's mother recounted speaking to Hind and her 15-year-old cousin, Layan Hamadeh, who was with her in the car when the attack occurred. The terrified Layan described the situation as gunfire erupted around them before the line abruptly went dead.

The ordeal of Hind, as depicted in the distressing audio recordings, underscores the unbearable conditions faced by civilians amid Israel's relentless assault on Gaza. Many governments have condemned the onslaught as a "genocide," with the Israeli military reportedly claiming the lives of nearly 28,000 people, predominantly women and children, since October 7.