Israel’s Foreign Ministry warned Israelis to avoid posting about their military service on social media, after Brazilian authorities asked police to investigate an Israeli soldier visiting the country who was accused of participating in war crimes.
The ministry stated last Sunday, 5th, that it helped the former soldier leave Brazil safely on a commercial flight after what it called “anti-Israel elements” began an investigation last week.
The investigation against the soldier was launched after the presentation of a complaint based on videos, geolocation data and photographs showing him participating in the demolition of civilian houses, according to the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl. years dead in Gaza.
The foundation described as “innovative” the Brazilian federal court’s decision to recognize jurisdiction over the matter and order urgent police action.
Dyab Abou Jahjah, president of the HRF, told the Financial Times that the ruling “sets a powerful precedent for nations to take bold action to hold perpetrators of war crimes to account.”
Abou Jahjah also said the foundation presented evidence against about a thousand Israeli releases to help bolster its case against Israel’s leaders.
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According to a report by the Financial Times, the HRF has been monitoring the movements of Israeli soldiers through posts on social media.
Additionally, the group filed war crimes complaints against soldiers who have dual nationality from countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands, with the aim of initiating proceedings in those countries.
Israel has faced severe international criticism over its war against Hamas in Gaza, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister.
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The International Court of Justice is separately investigating allegations of genocide. The case in Brazil has raised the possibility that low-ranking Israeli soldiers could also face prosecution while abroad.
Israel rejects international accusations, saying its forces in Gaza act in accordance with international law and that any violations are punished within its judicial systems.
The Israeli government blames Hamas for the civilian deaths, saying the terrorist group hides tunnels and other infrastructure in residential buildings, making their demolition necessary.
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During the war, Israeli soldiers published numerous videos from Gaza that appear to show actions such as searching homes and demolishing or burning residential buildings.
In some videos, they chant racist slogans or boast about the destruction in Palestinian territory. The war began when Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping around 250.
Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, and at least a third of them are believed dead. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials.
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They claim that women and children account for more than half of deaths, but do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists. Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
(With Estadão)
