Yuval Vagdani was the target of an investigation request from the Brazilian justice system for alleged war crimes; He has already returned to Israel
Israeli soldier Yuval Vagdani, who had a request for for alleged war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip approved by the Federal Court, stated that going to Brazil was the “dream trip”. He arrived in Israel on Wednesday (January 8, 2025) and revealed that he had been planning his vacation for 4 years.
Vagdani told the who managed to leave Brazil after being “smuggled” to Argentina with the help of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. From there, he took a flight to Miami, in the United States, and then left for Israel.
He stated that the way he had to leave Brazil was like “get shot in the heart” and said he will not return to the country again.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, ordered the country’s Embassy in Brazil to collect the soldier and his family and accompany them “until the quick and safe departure of the country”, according to the .
Yuval Vagdani, an Israeli soldier who is being investigated by Brazilian justice, arrived in Israel on Wednesday (8 January)
Upon landing in Israel, Vagdani said he was surprised by the news that he was being investigated by Brazilian justice.
“I woke up one morning, picked up my cell phone and suddenly there were 8 calls. The Foreign Minister, my mother, my brothers, consuls. I knew there was something wrong”, he said.
According to the portal Metropolisesthe investigation request was presented by (Hind Rajab Foundation), an organization that defends the rights of Palestinians. Vagdani was accused of participating in an attack on a residential neighborhood in Gaza in November last year.
On that occasion, a residential block was demolished by explosives. The site served as a shelter for Palestinians who had been internally displaced since the start of the war. In the document, HRF attached evidence that was collected through an investigation into Open Source Intelligence data – that is, in banks and sources with public information. They claim that the evidence proves the Israeli soldier’s involvement.
Vagdani also spoke out about the accusations, saying that the HRF report did not contain evidence that incriminated him.
“They wrote that I killed thousands of children and made it a 500 page document. All they had was a picture of me in my uniform in Gaza”, he declared.
According to the The Times of IsraelVagdani is one of the survivors of the from Hamas to a music festival in October 2023, which left more than 1,200 people dead.
