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Alsharq Tribune- Rahma Otaify- Ahram
Israel has facilitated the escape of a former soldier from Brazil after legal action was initiated against him by a group accusing Israelis of war crimes in the Gaza Strip based in part on soldiers' social media posts.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday said it had helped the former soldier leave Brazil on a commercial flight after last week investigation against him. It warned Israelis against posting on social media about their military service.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, named for a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli occupation soldiers in Gaza, said Brazilian authorities had launched an investigation into the soldier after it filed a complaint based on video footage, geolocation data and photographs showing him taking part in the demolition of civilian homes.
The foundation described the move as a “pivotal step toward accountability for crimes committed in Gaza" during nearly 15 months of war.
There was no immediate comment from Brazilian authorities. Brazilian media reported Saturday that the investigation was ordered by an on-call federal judge in Brazil’s Federal District. The decision was issued on Dec. 30 but first reported over the weekend.
Israel has faced heavy international criticism over its war in Gaza, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister.
The International Court of Justice is separately investigating genocide accusations. The Brazil case raised the prospect that rank-and-file Israeli troops could also face prosecution while abroad.
Throughout the war, Israeli soldiers have posted numerous videos from Gaza that appear to show them rummaging through homes and blowing up or burning residential buildings. In some, they chant racist slogans or boast about destroying the Palestinian territory. Israel is claiming that Hamas conceals tunnels and other infrastructure in residential buildings, necessitating their demolition.
Several viral videos and photos of Israeli soldiers behaving in a derogatory manner in Gaza have emerged as early as the second month of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza Such videos, uploaded by soldiers themselves, are not a new or unique phenomenon. Over the years, Israeli soldiers — and members of the US militaries — have been caught on camera acting inappropriately or maliciously in wars zones.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly children and women, with another over than 109,064 injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
