Israel said Tuesday that pressure groups were pressuring foreign courts to take action against Israelis over alleged war crimes in Gaza, but described the actions as a “propaganda effort.” He said no warrants had been issued.
International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, as well as Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, for his alleged role in planning the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel r.
The orders sparked outrage in Israel, but also fears that Israelis serving in the military in Gaza could receive similar orders.
An Israeli reservist on vacation in Brazil left the country on Sunday after a Brazilian federal judge in Salvador ordered police to open an investigation into allegations that he committed war crimes while serving in the military in Gaza.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, the pro-Palestinian group that filed the lawsuit, says on its website that it “focuses on offensive legal action against perpetrators, accomplices and instigators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine.” It said it filed a complaint based on video footage, geolocation data and photos showing a reservist taking part in the demolition of civilian homes.
A group from Belgium, named after a six-year-old boy Palestinian girl killed last year in Gaza, also said it had presented evidence of alleged war crimes against 1,000 Israelis to the ICC, including video and audio reports, forensic reports and other documentation. The ICC confirmed it had received the report and said it would “review the material submitted where appropriate.”
A not-so-common problem: Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israel's foreign ministry offered help to the reservist distinguished in the action, but officials said the problem was not widespread.
“This is a very limited phenomenon,” Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar Tal told reporters in Jerusalem, claiming that there had been no more than 10-12 cases since Israel's campaign in Gaza began 15 months ago.
“No order was issued in any of these cases. So I would say it was a relatively strong PR exercise, but with very low, very, very low – zero – judicial results.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif – all on charges of alleged war crimes. The court has no power to make arrests or execute warrants.
“We believe this is overall a large propaganda activity and is sponsored by entities, a very small number of entities, that have direct ties to terrorist organizations.”
The founder of the Hind Rajab Foundation, Dyab Abou Jahjah, posted messages on the social media platform X, promising to initiate legal proceedings against the Israeli soldiers and asking for help in identifying them.
The group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Complaints against IDF soldiers filed abroad
The Brazilian case has generated widespread attention in Israel, highlighting concerns that people outside the government and military leadership could be drawn into the war crimes issue, particularly through social media posts.
Documents published by Israeli media show that the Israeli military has warned reservists that they risk arrest abroad over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Haaretz newspaper reported that complaints against IDF soldiers were filed in South Africa, Belgium and France, as well as Brazil.
However, Rubens Becak, a law professor at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, said it was not always easy for third countries to respond to such lawsuits.
“Without specific regulations, it is very difficult for institutions like (the Brazilian Federal Police) to act in such cases.”