Latest news with #DyabAbouJahjah
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Caught In Belgium: Universal Jurisdiction And The IDF
Two soldiers find themselves in Belgium attending the Tomorrowland festival in Boom, Belgium. Entertainment beckons. The festival, held near Antwerp, attracts somewhere in the order of 400,000 guests over the course of two weekends. The two in question are members of the Israeli Defense Forces, said to be waving a flag of the Israeli Givati Brigade. The gesture is not prudent, given the exploits of that particular unit in the Gaza campaign of flattening and demolishing Palestinian infrastructure, civilian and all. A local, rabble-rousing outfit called the Hind Rajab Foundation, paired with the Global Legal Action Network (Glan), got vexed with the whole display. On July 19, they urged Belgian authorities to arrest the two flag wavers. They were allegedly 'indirectly implicated in some of the most egregious crimes committed during Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza.' A keen eye was focused on the Givati flag, one 'publicly displayed in the heart of Belgium'. Far from merely being a military, it had 'become, for millions, a symbol of impunity, destruction, and ethnic cleansing.' The HRF, having identified an opportunity, were heartened by the arrests, despite an announcement from the Belgian public broadcaster, RTBF, that the two had been released after questioning. 'It signals that Belgium has recognized universal jurisdiction under international law and is treating allegations with the seriousness it deserves. At a time when too many governments remain silent, this action sends a clear message: credible evidence of international crimes with a legal response – not political difference.' HRF director and founder Dyab Abou Jahjah, seeing the stirring, if limited precedent in the move, told the Middle East Eye that 'this was a major milestone' within the broader context of accountability. 'This is the first time that a European country acknowledges universal jurisdiction against Israeli soldiers and acts upon it in a forceful way, arrests them, and brings them to a police station to interrogate them.' In a post on Instagram, the foundation also ruminated on whether this might be 'a turning point in the global pursuit of accountability'. The motivations behind the HRF are clear: 'To the victims and survivors of Gaza: we see you, we hear you, and we carry your demands for justice forwards.' The group's campaign has certainly begun to trouble Israeli officials, apparently prompting Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli to cancel his visit to the European Parliament in Brussels earlier this year. That Belgium recognised such jurisdiction was hardly novel. The law concerning the punishment of serious violations of international humanitarian law of June 16, 1993 established the principle of universal jurisdiction in Belgium, enabling prosecutions to be taken against alleged violators of international humanitarian law irrespective of whether they were in Belgian territory or otherwise. In 2003, the law amending the Belgian Criminal Code focused on criminalising genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture. In this case, the prosecutors were satisfied that they had jurisdiction because of Article 14/10 of the Preliminary Title of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which came into force on April 28, 2024. The article explicitly grants Belgian courts jurisdiction to try crimes committed outside Belgium based on such international instruments as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Convention against Torture of 1984. One of the arrested Israelis complained after the arrest, suggesting they had been manhandled. 'The officers hit us, we got blows to the face,' one of them told Israel's Channel 12 news. 'They took us to a secret police station in the compound.' That such treatment is meted out by their own colleagues to Palestinians on a daily basis in the occupied territories was not an irony to appreciate. The arrests did worry a number of Israel's defenders. 'This is a serious incident that requires an immediate response from the State of Israel, including considering diplomatic measures against the Belgian ambassador,' claimed the Israeli Reservists Generation of Victory organisation. The body further went on to castigate internal critics of Israel's war policies such as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and leader of the Israeli Democrats Party, Yair Golan, accusing them of pursuing a 'toxic media discourse'. Olmert had publicly decried the proposal by the IDF for creating a 'humanitarian city' in Gaza as nothing better than a dressed-up version of a concentration camp. Golan had also drawn the ire of some commentators for telling Kan Reshet Bet's This Morning program in mid-May that, 'A sane country does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies for a hobby, and does not set goals involving the expulsion of populations.' The European Jewish Association also expressed concerns that the 'soldiers were carrying out lawful duties in defence of their country, duties comparable to those of any soldier serving in a democratic nation.' That may have been perceived as such, but an absolute fidelity to following orders is no longer fashionable in international jurisprudence, a point sometimes missed even in democratic states. On the glittery surface, apprehending two soldiers of the IDF and temporarily detaining them seems a case of pruning rather than uprooting. The problems remain, festering away in the suffering feats of endurance for those in Gaza. Israel's authorities and the IDF know it. Arresting travelling soldiers for questioning under the principle of universal jurisdiction and a suspicion of committing crimes against humanity has its role, but such a justice is poor if it leaves the prominent leaders and commanders at large. The true criminality of any broad enterprise always lies with the decision makers. Those decision makers continue to elude legal capture or ostracising, despite international arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court. At least for the moment.
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Belgium detains Israeli soldiers over alleged war crimes
An Israeli soldier and citizen were both taken into custody by police in Belgium on Monday to investigate their potential involvement in war crimes committed in Gaza, said a statement by the Hind Rajab foundation. The statement added that both were interrogated and released, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office confirming 'that a criminal investigation is now underway.' The two Israelis, who were attending Belgium's Tomorrowland festival, were spotted raising the flag of an Israeli military infantry brigade the day before and, subsequently, had a legal complaint filed against them by the foundation. The foundation said that this was the first time a European country has followed through with the arrest of 'Israeli suspects linked to crimes in Gaza.' This instance is only a part of the Hind Rajab Foundation's greater mission of holding Israeli soldiers accountable when they violate international law. Founder Dyab Abou Jahjah, while discussing the aims of the foundation, stated, 'We believe that targeting the soldiers themselves is a more direct and effective strategy.' The organization does so by filing complaints against soldiers who either have dual nationality or are traveling abroad, capitalizing on laws that allow for international prosecution regarding war crimes. On Oct. 8, 2024, the foundation submitted a report of 1,000 soldiers to the International Criminal Court. The file contained over 8,000 pieces of evidence. This evidence primarily stemmed from social media, notably content and statements posted by soldiers in which they actively target civilians and destroy Palestinian homes. Jahjah stated that the goal was for Israeli soldiers to 'understand that their actions have consequences,' and hold countries accountable for investigating nationals who partake in war crimes.
Roya News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Hind Rajab Foundation pursues 'Israeli' soldiers at Belgium music festival
The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), in collaboration with the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), has filed urgent legal complaints with the Belgian Federal Prosecutor, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of two 'Israeli' soldiers attending the Tomorrowland music festival. The foundation says these individuals are implicated in grave international crimes, including war crimes and genocide, committed during 'Israel's' ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip, leveraging Belgium's universal jurisdiction laws. The HRF's action was prompted by the alleged presence of young 'Israeli' soldiers at Tomorrowland waving the flag of the 'Israeli' Givati Brigade, a unit the HRF says is "extensively documented for its role in the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza and for carrying out mass atrocities against the Palestinian population". The foundation asserts that the Givati flag has become a "symbol of impunity, destruction, and ethnic cleansing". The individuals are accused of direct involvement in crimes such as indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, use of torture and human shields, mass arbitrary detention, forced displacement, and deliberate infliction of conditions calculated to destroy the Palestinian population. The Hind Rajab Foundation, established in September 2024 and named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, aims to challenge 'Israeli' impunity for alleged war crimes. Co-founded by Dyab Abou Jahjah, the HRF employs open-source intelligence (OSINT) to monitor social media posts by 'Israeli' soldiers for evidence of criminal activity, then files cases when subjects enter countries with universal jurisdiction. This strategy has led to reported instances of 'Israeli' soldiers fleeing countries like Brazil and Argentina to evade arrest, and an 'Israeli' cabinet minister canceling a visit to Belgium due to arrest risks. The 'Israeli' Foreign Ministry is aware of 28 such claims in eight countries, many attributed to HRF. While 'Israeli' officials publicly downplay the threat, the military has implemented new rules to protect troops' privacy and warned against social media posts that could lead to legal action abroad.
Roya News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israel' sanctions Hind Rajab Foundation leaders amid escalating legal battles
'Israel' has issued a sanctions list targeting 50 individuals, with the leadership of the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) prominently featured, according to a statement released by the organization on social media platform X. The foundation's Chairman, Dyab Abou Jahjah, co-founders Karim Hassoun and Haroon Raza, and three lawyers associated with their work are at the top of the list. Israeli Hasbara Alert Israel has issued a sanctions list targeting 50 individuals. At the very top are our Chairman Dyab Abou Jahjah and co-founders Karim Hassoun and Haroon Raza, followed by three lawyers who have worked with the #HindRajabFoundation. This escalation is… — The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) July 5, 2025 The sanctions come as the Hind Rajab Foundation increasingly pursues legal action against 'Israeli' officials and soldiers in various international jurisdictions, war crimes and human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. The HRF stated that this move by 'Israel' is "not coincidental" and follows "the success of our legal filing in Peru and the growing international traction of our cases." In May 2025, Peru initiated a formal criminal investigation into an 'Israeli' soldier accused of participating in the destruction of civilian neighborhoods in Gaza, following a complaint filed by the HRF. This marked a significant development for the foundation, which has filed numerous complaints in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the UK, and also submitted a complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against over 1,000 'Israeli' soldiers and high-ranking officials. The Hind Rajab Foundation, named after six-year-old Palestinian Hind Rajab who was killed in Gaza, was established in 2024 with the stated mission of challenging 'Israeli' impunity regarding alleged war crimes. The organization actively gathers evidence, often from social media posts by 'Israeli' soldiers, to build its cases. In its statement, the HRF expressed concern over an impending "large-scale Hasbara (propaganda) campaign" aimed at delegitimizing the foundation and creating confusion. They urged supporters to "remain vigilant, principled, and focused," asserting that the sanctions are a clear indication that 'Israel' views their work as a "serious threat to its impunity." "Their attacks are the clearest sign that our work is making a real impact," the HRF stated, vowing not to be intimidated or divided and to continue their efforts to "hold them accountable." While the 'Israeli' government has not publicly commented on this specific sanctions list, previous reports indicate that 'Israeli' officials are aware of and follow the HRF's activities, though some downplay their overall impact. However, the 'Israeli' military has reportedly implemented new rules regarding soldiers' social media use to prevent doxxing and potential legal repercussions abroad. The imposition of sanctions on the HRF's leadership highlights the escalating legal and political tensions surrounding accountability for actions in the Gaza war, as human rights organizations increasingly leverage international legal frameworks to challenge perceived impunity.
Middle East Eye
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
The Belgian 'justice machine' pursuing Israeli soldiers worldwide for Gaza war crimes
For over 15 months, Israeli soldiers have taken to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms to show off their handiwork in Gaza. Now, this very evidence is being used to pursue war crimes charges against them across the globe, with the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation at the forefront of these efforts. 'You can't massacre people, film yourself doing it, broadcast it to the world, confess to your actions, and then simply go about your life, sitting next to me at a cafe in Brussels,' says Dyab Abou Jahjah, president of the foundation. He emphasises that their mission is clear: 'We are going after war criminals wherever they go.' Abou Jahjah says that the foundation has gathered over 8,000 pieces of evidence related to alleged war crimes by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
