Israeli soldier leaves Brazil over Gaza war crime

A soldier on vacation in Brazil decided to leave the country over Gaza war crimes charges.

A pro-Palestinian legal organization has successfully persuaded a Brazilian judge to initiate a war crimes investigation against him, citing alleged civilian demolitions in Gaza. Fearing arrest under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which permits nations to prosecute severe military crimes regardless of their location, he fled the country within days.

Vagdani, who was a victim of the Hamas attack during an Israeli concert festival on October 7, 2023, described the allegations as a “bullet in the heart.” His case was brought forth by the Hind Rajab Foundation, a reputable legal organization based in Belgium.

They have presented significant evidence, including geolocation data and his social media posts, alongside photographic proof of him in uniform in Gaza and video footage of an explosion with soldiers celebrating in the background.

The Hind Rajab Foundation has previously filed complaints in ten other countries against Israeli soldiers at various ranks.

Although these efforts have not yet resulted in any arrests, they have consistently pressured Israel to tighten social media regulations concerning its military.

While Brazil has implemented certain measures, the Israeli army has imposed a media blackout on information regarding low troop levels and has advised soldiers to refrain from discussing their service on social media.

The Hind Rajab Foundation remains steadfast in its mission, despite the expectation that achieving meaningful change may take years.