DaysofPal- The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a legal complaint in a US court seeking a criminal investigation into an Israeli dual national accused of committing war crimes and acts of genocide during Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip.
The complaint targets Adi Karni, a former sergeant in the Israeli army’s 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion, and was submitted while he was physically present in the United States, where he is scheduled to speak at Boston University.
HRF said Karni’s presence on US soil activates American jurisdiction and creates a legal obligation for authorities to investigate under federal law.
The filing invokes the US War Crimes Act and the Genocide Statute, which allow American courts to prosecute individuals present in the country who are credibly accused of committing serious international crimes abroad.
HRF stressed that, under these laws, jurisdiction is mandatory once a suspect enters US territory.
According to the foundation, the US complaint follows earlier legal actions filed in several countries. In Peru, authorities have already opened a formal criminal investigation into Karni on charges related to genocide.
HRF said additional complaints have been lodged elsewhere to ensure legal accountability wherever he travels.
The case is based on an investigative report prepared in line with international evidentiary standards.
HRF alleges that Karni was directly involved in the demolition of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including the destruction of protected religious sites such as mosques, as part of a widespread and systematic operation by his unit.
The report also cites public statements attributed to Karni after his military service, including claims that “there are no civilians in Gaza.” HRF said such remarks are legally significant in demonstrating intent, dehumanization, and patterns relevant to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
In addition to his alleged actions during the war, HRF said Karni has continued to travel internationally to publicly justify and normalize the destruction of Gaza, arguing that this conduct reinforces, rather than distances him from, the alleged crimes.
HRF director Dyab Abou Jahjah said that Karni’s ongoing international travel places a legal responsibility on every state he enters to act on credible allegations.
He added that the US filing is intended to test whether Washington will apply its own laws when faced with documented evidence of international crimes.
The foundation emphasized that its complaint is grounded in documented evidence rather than political disagreement.
F It also noted that the case forms part of a broader international legal effort targeting Israeli individuals accused of crimes linked to Gaza.
In a related move last month, HRF submitted an urgent request to the US Department of Justice seeking the prosecution of former Israeli soldier and comedian Guy Hochman, following his detention and questioning in Canada over alleged war crimes and public incitement to genocide.
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