DaysofPal- The judicial authorities in Peru have officially referred a case involving alleged genocide committed by an Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip to the Human Rights Prosecutor.
This step comes in response to a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Human Rights Organization, accusing the soldier, who holds dual nationality, of participating in the destruction of civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure during the Israeli assault on Gaza between 2023 and 2024.
According to media reports, the organization submitted documented audiovisual and intelligence-based evidence implicating the soldier, who served in the Israeli occupation forces’ combat engineering corps, in “direct participation in implementing a scorched-earth policy and wiping out entire neighborhoods.” The unit is described as one of the key forces responsible for turning civilian areas in Gaza into “uninhabitable zones.”
This Peruvian initiative marks a significant development in the realm of universal jurisdiction and highlights the growing willingness of the international community to hold perpetrators of crimes against Palestinian civilians accountable.
The organization is represented in the case by prominent Peruvian lawyer Julio César Arbizu Gonzales, who confirmed that the Peruvian Public Prosecutor has begun actively investigating the evidence rather than merely assessing its admissibility. This move comes in line with Peru’s international obligations, especially under the Rome Statute and international humanitarian law.
The organization emphasized that the case is not symbolic or procedural but represents “a genuine beginning of legal accountability.”
The organization’s head, Diab Abu Jahjah, stated that the opening of the investigation marks a pivotal moment in breaking the cycle of impunity. He stressed that justice is not an option but a duty—and a clear message that “those who commit international crimes will not enjoy protection, even outside conflict zones.”
The organization also revealed that it has submitted arrest warrant requests for 1,000 Israeli soldiers with dual nationality across eight countries. The names have not been disclosed in order to avoid alerting the suspects to possible legal proceedings.
The organization urged all countries that are signatories to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute to take similar measures should any suspects involved in Gaza war crimes enter their territories.
It is worth noting that the “Hind Rajab” Human Rights Organization was founded in 2024, named after six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed in January 2024 after being trapped for hours inside a vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. Israeli forces reportedly targeted her location and blocked rescue teams from reaching her, despite her repeated pleas for help over the phone.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=64515
