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description: Israel&#x27;s military acknowledged its troops fired on Hind Rajab&#x27;s family car and opened a criminal investigation into the 2024 killings.
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twitter:description: Israel&#x27;s military acknowledged its troops fired on Hind Rajab&#x27;s family car and opened a criminal investigation into the 2024 killings.
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf0e8d13e6f043094/6a863423747a86dc5fc2f969/hind-rajab-family-car-deaths-israel-gaza.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# What to Know About Israel’s Probe Into the Killing of Hind Rajab

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> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: July 2026.

## Project Management Institute: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global non-profit professional organization for the project management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI develops standards, conducts research, and provides education, professional certifications, and networking opportunities for project professionals. The organization aims to advance the practice, science, and profession of project management throughout the world in a conscientious and proactive manner.

### Organization facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Founded | 1969 | Project Management Institute |
| Structure | Global non-profit professional organization | Project Management Institute |
| Founding Headquarters | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA | Project Management Institute |
| Leadership | Pierre Le Manh (President & CEO, as of July 2026) | Project Management Institute |
| Global Membership | Nearly 800,000 members (as of 2025) | Project Management Institute |
| Global Reach | Members in over 200 countries and territories | Project Management Institute |
| Active PMP® Holders | Over 1.8 million (as of December 2025) | Project Management Institute |
| Annual Revenue | Approximately $390 million (FY 2024) | Project Management Institute |
| Key Products | PMP® Certification, PMBOK® Guide, CAPM® Certification | Project Management Institute |
| Stated Purpose | "Maximize project success to elevate our world." | Project Management Institute |

### Key data points: Empowering Professional Growth

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Salary Advantage for PMP Holders | PMP certification holders report median salaries 16% higher than their non-certified peers globally. | PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—13th Edition" |
| Growth in Project Management Jobs | 2.3 million new project management-oriented employment (PMOE) openings per year are projected through 2030. | PMI, "Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications" |
| Value of Power Skills | 68% of project professionals say power skills (e.g., communication, empathy) are more important than technical skills. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" |
| Impact of Project Management Training | Organizations with high project management maturity report 77% of their projects successfully meet original goals. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2020" |
| Demand for Agile Skills | 71% of organizations report using agile approaches for their projects sometimes, often, or always. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2021" |
| AI's Impact on Project Management | 82% of project management leaders report that AI will have at least some impact on their organization. | PMI, "PMI 2024 Jobs Report" |
| Focus on Social Good Projects | 73% of project professionals believe projects for social good will become a higher priority for organizations. | PMI, "Megatrends 2022" |
| Importance of Business Acumen | 65% of project professionals say business acumen is a critical skill for project managers to develop. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" |

### Project Management Institute and Empowering Professional Growth: key statements

*   PMI provides a framework of globally recognized certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, that validate expertise and support career advancement.
*   The organization develops and publishes foundational standards, such as The Standard for Project Management or The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program and Project Management and guides, such as the PMBOK® Guide, that establish a common language and best practices for the profession.
*   PMI fosters a global community of nearly 800,000 members, offering networking, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing opportunities through local chapters and online platforms.
*   Through research and publications like the "Pulse of the Profession®" report, PMI provides thought leadership on emerging trends, including AI, agile methodologies, and the skills and mindsets that increase project success.
*   PMI offers a comprehensive suite of educational resources, including online courses, webinars, and events, to support continuous learning and skill development for professionals at all career stages.
*   PMI champions the development of the “M.O.R.E.” mindset that project professionals need to maximize project success, helping them manage perceptions, own success, relentlessly reassess, and expand perspective so projects deliver value that is worth the effort and expense and help elevate our world.
*   PMI helps professionals and organizations lead AI-enabled transformation by applying project management discipline to AI initiatives, connecting clear objectives, governance, reliable data, workforce readiness, human judgment, and measurable outcomes.
*   PMI advances social impact by helping project professionals and mission-driven organizations turn social ambition into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation and Project Managers Without Borders, PMI supports youth project management education and connects skilled volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs working to strengthen communities and improve lives.

### FAQ

#### Is a PMP certification worth it?

A Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is widely considered a valuable certification for project managers seeking to advance their careers. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition, professionals with a PMP certification report median salaries 17% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed than those without it. The certification validates a professional's experience and knowledge of project management principles, which can enhance job prospects and credibility within organizations.

#### What are the best certifications for project managers?

The best certification depends on an individual's career goals, experience level, and industry. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation.

#### How does PMI support career growth for professionals?

PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers.

#### What is the PMBOK® Guide?

The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery.

#### How is AI changing project management?

AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment.  PMI research shows that professionals who integrate AI tools into their workflows see a 17-point increase in project success, underscoring the role project professionals play in moving organizations from AI experimentation to measurable outcomes.

#### What are the most important skills for a project manager?

Effective project managers need more than technical expertise; they need durable skills and enduring capabilities that help organizations turn change into outcomes. As AI reshapes work, the most important capabilities include leadership, communication, critical thinking, systems thinking, business acumen, adaptability, collaboration, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who manage complexity effectively are five times more likely to succeed on complex projects, while project professionals with high business acumen achieve business goals more frequently and experience lower project failure rates.


#### How can I get involved with the PMI community?

Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections.

#### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM?

The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification.

#### How does PMI support social impact?
PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world.


### Sources

*   Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=8b44b96e-f137-426d-8ad0-9f97ee2c0829&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)


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by 

[Connor Greene](https://time.com/author/connor-greene/)


## Connor Greene


Editorial Fellow

Aug 20, 2026 6:48 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf0e8d13e6f043094/6a863423747a86dc5fc2f969/hind-rajab-family-car-deaths-israel-gaza.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

A general view of the damaged car in which 5-year-old Hind Rajab and members of her family died after Israeli forces fired on the vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza.

A general view of the damaged car in which 5-year-old Hind Rajab and members of her family died after Israeli forces fired on the vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza.Dawoud Abo Alkas—Anadolu/Getty Images

by 

[Connor Greene](https://time.com/author/connor-greene/)


## Connor Greene


Editorial Fellow

Aug 20, 2026 6:48 PM UTC

The[ Israel Defense Forces](https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/us-israel-military-funding-defense-bill-ndaa/) (IDF) has acknowledged for the first time that its soldiers opened fire on a vehicle carrying 5-year-old Palestinian girl[ Hind Rajab](https://time.com/7363949/the-voice-of-hind-rajab-true-story-interview/) and six of her relatives in Gaza, and said it would launch a[ criminal investigation](https://idfanc.activetrail.biz/ANC152468) into the incident.

The admission, issued Wednesday as part of the IDF’s review of roughly 150 “exceptional” incidents involving its troops during the war in Gaza, [reverses](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/idf-no-troops-were-operating-in-area-where-6-year-old-gazan-girl-was-killed-earlier-this-month-initial-probe) the military’s previous denial that its forces were in the area when Rajab and her relatives from the Hamada family were killed in January 2024.

In findings published by its[ General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM)](https://idfanc.activetrail.biz/ANC152468), an internal IDF body tasked with conducting factual reviews of exceptional operational incidents, the IDF said Israeli troops fired on the Hamada family’s vehicle as it approached them, killing five passengers. 

Rajab and her 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamada initially survived. Twelve days later, their bodies were recovered from the vehicle by [rescue workers](https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/posts/on-her-7th-birthday-we-know-who-killed-hind-rajab-and-were-taking-them-to-court) [returning to the area](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl7yjlpx2po), along with those of the five relatives who had been killed in the initial shooting.

The IDF said it was opening a criminal investigation after its review identified alleged failures in coordinating the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance that was sent to rescue the girls. The two paramedics inside the ambulance were also killed.

“In the hours shortly after the firing, following a telephone call to rescue authorities, in which the two girls participated and later Hind alone, the movement of a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance was coordinated for the purpose of evacuating the casualties,” the Israeli military said.


It continued: “According to the allegations raised, upon the ambulance’s arrival at the scene of the incident, a shell was fired toward it, resulting in the deaths of the two paramedics travelling in it. Several days later, the bodies of the seven members of the Hamada family, including the bodies of Hind and Layan, were recovered from the vehicle. In addition, the bodies of the two paramedics were recovered from the ambulance.”

In a statement on Thursday, Hind Rajab’s mother, Wesam Hamada, [said](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/19/middleeast/israel-military-idf-hind-rajab-firing-intl), “I do not want a closed military investigation. I want an independent, transparent investigation and genuine accountability for everyone responsible.”

## What happened to Hind Rajab

The Hamada family was traveling through Gaza City on Jan. 29, 2024, after Israeli evacuation orders prompted them to leave the city’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, when their vehicle came under fire.

The girls contacted rescue authorities for help. Recordings released by the PRCS in February 2024 captured Layan speaking with an emergency dispatcher before gunfire was heard and the call ended. 


When the organization called back, Rajab answered and remained in contact with emergency personnel for hours as they tried to arrange her rescue. In the recording, Rajab tells a dispatcher that everyone else in the car is dead and that a tank is approaching. She repeatedly pleads for someone to come and rescue her, and as daylight fades, says she is afraid of the dark.

The recordings later became central to[ Kaouther Ben Hania’s _The Voice of Hind Rajab_](https://time.com/7363949/the-voice-of-hind-rajab-true-story-interview/), which uses Rajab’s real voice and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film 2026.

**Read More:**[The Story Behind _The Voice of Hind Rajab_, the Oscar Contender Pushing a Global Call for Justice for Gaza Victims](https://time.com/7363949/the-voice-of-hind-rajab-true-story-interview/)

“IDF troops fired at a vehicle that was approaching them while travelling contrary to the advanced notice that had been published in an announcement by the IDF Spokesperson to residents of the area,” the Israeli military said in its findings Wednesday. “As a result of the fire, five of the vehicle’s passengers were killed, and two survived: Hind Rajab and her cousin Layan Hamada.”

In the hours after the shooting, the PRCS sought to send an ambulance to evacuate the girls and coordinated its movement to the scene. According to the IDF, allegations reviewed by the FFAM indicated that a shell was fired toward the ambulance after it arrived, killing the two paramedics inside.

“Following review of the findings and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance, it has been decided to initiate a criminal investigation of the incident by Military Police Criminal Investigation Division,” the IDF said Wednesday.

A[ _Washington Post_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/hind-rajab-israel-gaza-killing-timeline) investigation previously found that the PRCS dispatched the ambulance after coordinating with Israeli authorities to secure a safe route. The ambulance came under fire after it reached the area, killing the two paramedics.

Days later, the bodies of all seven members of the Hamada family, including Rajab and Layan, were recovered from the vehicle, while the bodies of the two paramedics were found in the ambulance.


The deaths of Rajab and her relatives were among the most high-profile civilian casualties of the early months of the war in Gaza. Her fate became the subject of international concern as recordings of her calls with emergency personnel circulated around the world and prompted widespread calls for her rescue.

The IDF had previously denied involvement. In February 2024, it told[ The Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/idf-no-troops-were-operating-in-area-where-6-year-old-gazan-girl-was-killed-earlier-this-month-initial-probe) that “IDF troops were not present near the vehicle or within firing range of the described vehicle in which the girl was found.”

Before Rajab’s body was recovered, the IDF also told the _Washington Post_ that it was “[unfamiliar with the incident](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/02/gaza-city-rescue-palestine-red-crescent/).” It gave a similar response to[ CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/middleeast/israel-gaza-hind-missing-girl-prcs-intl-hnk/index.html), which had provided the military with coordinates supplied by the PRCS. 

## What else the IDF announced

The criminal investigation into the Rajab case was one of five decisions announced Wednesday involving incidents examined by the FFAM.


The IDF said a second criminal investigation would examine the deaths of 15 Palestinians, including medical personnel and a U.N. employee, during three shooting incidents in Tel al-Sultan, a neighborhood in Rafah, on March 23, 2025.

“They were killed in their uniforms. Driving their clearly marked vehicles. Wearing their gloves. On their way to save lives. This should never have happened,” said Jonathan Whittall, then head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, who helped coordinate the recovery mission. Whittall[ said](https://x.com/%5Fjwhittall/status/1906455238371905901) that a U.N. vehicle, an ambulance, and a fire truck had been crushed and partially buried and that the bodies had been recovered from a mass grave.

Referring to the incident, the IDF[ said](https://idfanc.activetrail.biz/ANC152468) Wednesday that its soldiers had been conducting an ambush against suspected Hamas operatives when they opened fire on the vehicles. “It later became apparent that the vehicles struck in the first and second shooting incidents were a fire truck and ambulances, and that the vehicle struck in the third shooting incident was a Palestinian UN vehicle,” the military said. It said six of those killed were identified as members of Hamas.


The IDF also acknowledged that after the shooting, troops “decided to crush the vehicles and to cover the bodies with metal mesh.” The Military Prosecution, the legal body responsible for reviewing FFAM findings, concluded that “the firing conducted during the incident raises a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct,” prompting the second criminal investigation.

The Military Prosecution declined to launch criminal investigations into three other incidents reviewed by the FFAM: the Israeli strikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen employees in April 2024; an IDF strike on a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) building in Khan Yunis on Feb. 20, 2024, that killed two employees; and an incident in Gaza City on Nov. 18, 2023, in which two MSF employees were killed.

In the World Central Kitchen case, the IDF said its review found “serious failures” that led Israeli forces to mistakenly conclude that Hamas operatives were traveling in the aid group’s vehicles, but determined that commanders’ decisions did not raise a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. Two officers had previously been removed from their positions and three others formally reprimanded over the strike.


The five cases are among roughly 150 incidents that the IDF says the FFAM has reviewed since the war in Gaza began after Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Data from the IDF suggests a[ Palestinian civilian death rate of 83%](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/aug/21/revealed-israeli-militarys-own-data-indicates-civilian-death-rate-of-83-in-gaza-war). 

Israeli rights groups have long questioned the effectiveness of the military’s system for investigating alleged wrongdoing by its own forces.

An analysis by the Israeli human rights organization[ Yesh Din](https://www.yesh-din.org/en/data-sheet-law-enforcement-against-israeli-soldiers-suspected-of-harming-palestinians-and-their-property-figures-for-2018-2022) of complaints involving soldiers’ conduct in the West Bank between 2018 and 2022 found that just 0.4% of cases in which a Palestinian was killed and the fatality was brought to the military’s attention resulted in a prosecution—one prosecution for every 219 fatalities. B’Tselem, another prominent Israeli human rights organization, has cited Yesh Din’s 0.4% prosecution rate, [saying it demonstrates](https://www.btselem.org/firearms/20250310%5Fwithin%5Fless%5Fthan%5Fa%5Fmonth%5Fisraeli%5Fforces%5Fshot%5Fand%5Fkilled%5Ffour%5Fchildren%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fwest%5Fbank%5Fwho%5Fposed%5Fno%5Freal%5Fthreat) the failure of Israel’s military and civilian legal systems to hold soldiers accountable for killing Palestinians.


What to Know About Israel’s Probe Into the Killing of Hind Rajab

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