This case raises the possibility of Israeli soldiers facing prosecution abroad. Israel denies international war crime accusations, asserting its operations in Gaza adhere to international law.
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Israel has facilitated the departure of a former soldier from Brazil after legal proceedings were initiated against him by a group alleging war crimes in Gaza, partly based on social media posts by soldiers.
On Sunday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it assisted the soldier in leaving Brazil via a commercial flight, accusing “anti-Israel elements” of instigating the investigation.
The ministry also urged Israelis to refrain from sharing military-related posts on social media.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, named after a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, stated that Brazilian authorities opened an investigation following its complaint.
The foundation cited video footage, geolocation data, and photographs allegedly showing the soldier involved in the demolition of civilian homes. It called the investigation a “pivotal step toward accountability for crimes committed in Gaza.”
Brazilian authorities are yet to comment. Local media reported that the investigation was authorised by a federal judge last Monday and surfaced publicly over the weekend.
The case raises concerns that Israeli rank-and-file soldiers could face prosecution abroad. Israel has rejected international accusations of war crimes, maintaining its actions in Gaza comply with international law and blaming Hamas for civilian casualties by embedding military infrastructure in residential areas.
Additionally, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, while the International Court of Justice is conducting a separate investigation into allegations of genocide.
Rising death toll in Gaza
During the war, Israeli soldiers have shared numerous videos from Gaza that seemingly depict them searching homes and demolishing or setting fire to residential buildings.
In some footage, they can be heard chanting racist slogans or bragging about the destruction of Palestinian areas.
The war began on 7 October 2023 after Hamas-led militants killed over 1,200 people and abducted around 250 in southern Israel.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 45,800 Palestinians killed, with women and children comprising more than half the casualties. Israel states it has killed over 17,000 militants, though evidence has not been provided.
Israeli airstrikes on Sunday resulted in the deaths of five individuals in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, four in Khan Younis in the south, and three in the Bureij refugee camp, also in central Gaza, according to health workers.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that at least 88 people had been killed within the last 24 hours.
The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and left vast destruction.