JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has assisted a former soldier in departing Brazil after legal action was initiated against him by a group accusing Israelis of war crimes in the Gaza Strip, partly based on their social media posts. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating it had facilitated the safe departure of the former soldier from Brazil following attempts by “anti-Israel elements” to trigger an investigation last week. The Ministry cautioned Israelis against sharing details of their military service on social media.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, named after a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, reported that Brazilian authorities had opened an investigation into the soldier after a complaint was filed, citing video footage, geolocation data, and photographs showing his involvement in the demolition of civilian homes. It characterized this as a significant step towards holding individuals accountable for crimes committed in Gaza.
There was no immediate response from Brazilian authorities. Local media in Brazil indicated that the investigation was initiated by an on-call federal judge in Brazil’s Federal District. The decision was made on Dec. 30 but was only reported by the media over the weekend.
Israel has faced substantial international criticism for its actions against Hamas in Gaza, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The International Court of Justice is also investigating allegations of genocide.
The Brazil case raises the possibility that ordinary Israeli soldiers may face potential prosecution while traveling abroad. Israel vehemently denies the international accusations, asserting that its operations in Gaza adhere to international law and any breaches are dealt with through its own legal processes. Israel argues that Hamas hides tunnels and other militant infrastructure in residential buildings, necessitating their destruction.
Throughout the nearly 15-month conflict, Israeli soldiers have shared numerous videos from Gaza showing them searching private homes, demolishing residential buildings, and making racist statements. The military has pledged disciplinary action in what it deems to be isolated incidents.
The war began when Hamas militants entered southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals. Over 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to local health officials. The conflict has led to widespread destruction, displacing around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian security services in the occupied West Bank, claiming he was a wanted militant. The Israeli paramilitary Border Police reported that they conducted an operation in the village of Meithaloun overnight to apprehend Hassan Rabaiya. They stated that he was fatally shot while attempting to flee, with a shotgun and weap
Parts of weapons and around $26,000 in cash were discovered inside his residence in Meithaloun. Israeli authorities have unveiled helmet-cam footage depicting the police shooting the suspect and subsequently detonating what was referred to as an explosives facility on his property. Meithaloun is situated near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities in recent times. Palestinian security services have identified Rabaiya as a first lieutenant within its Preventive Security force, asserting that he met his demise while “fulfilling his national duty.” The Palestinian Authority has initiated an unusual crackdown on militants in Jenin of late, provoking discontent among many Palestinians. The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority administers limited self-governance in certain areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and collaborates with Israel on security issues. Nonetheless, Israel has consistently accused it of instigating violence and turning a blind eye to militants, while Palestinian critics view it as a corrupt and ineffective institution that abets the occupation.
The West Bank has witnessed a surge in violence since Hamas’ assault out of Gaza on October 7, 2023, triggered conflict there. Israel seized control of both Gaza and the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Middle East conflict, and the Palestinians aspire to claim all three territories for their prospective state. Israel has cautioned that the ceasefire in Lebanon is in jeopardy. Israel’s defense minister cautioned on Sunday that the truce which concluded over a year of hostilities with Lebanon’s Hezbollah is under threat. Israel Katz articulated that the agreement mandates Hezbollah to retreat to the north of the Litani River and expects Lebanese troops to eradicate any militant infrastructure within the buffer zone — a condition that remains unmet. He warned, “If this condition is not fulfilled, the agreement will be void, compelling Israel to take independent action to guarantee the safe return of northern residents to their homes.”
Both parties have accused one another of violating the ceasefire accord. The deal brokered on November 27 to halt nearly 14 months of combat linked to the Gaza conflict demanded that Hezbollah promptly lay down its arms in southern Lebanon. It allotted Israel 60 days to withdraw its forces and transfer control to the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers. Thus far, Israel has only evacuated two of the numerous towns it occupies in southern Lebanon. Moreover, it has persisted in targeting what it alleges are Hezbollah strongholds, claiming the group is endeavoring to launch rockets and transport weapons before they can be intercepted and neutralized.
Hezbollah, which was significantly weakened following a series of Israeli airstrikes last autumn, has issued a threat to resume hostilities if Israel fails to completely withdraw its forces by the 60-day deadline.
___Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese in Rio de Janeiro contributed.___Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
