- Joined
- Mar 10, 2024
- Messages
- 1,384
- Points
- 63
If you did nothing wrong then why flee like a coward
Jan. 6 (UPI) -- An Israeli soldier accused of committing war crimes in Gaza has fled Brazil where he was vacationing when the case was brought against him in the South American country.
The unidentified soldier is accused of participating in the mass demolition of civilian homes in Gaza amid Israel's war against Iran-backed Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
The Brazilian authorities last week took up the case based on a complaint filed by the pro-Palestinian Hind Rajab Foundation, which said the alleged crimes "are part of a broader effort to impose unbearable living conditions on Palestinian civilians, constituting genocide and crimes against humanity under international law."
The soldier's escape from Brazil was confirmed in a Sunday statement from Israel's foreign ministry.
"Following an attempt last weekend by anti-Israeli elements to investigate a discharged Israeli soldier who visited Brazil, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar immediately activated the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the Israeli citizen was not in danger," the ministry said, CNN reported.
Sa'ar had the ministry's Consular Section and embassy in Brazil accompany the soldier "throughout the event until his swift and safe departure from Brazil," the ministry said, according to The Times of Israel.
The ministry framed the investigation as an anti-Israel assault targeting its soldiers abroad, warning those in uniform that some may seek to exploit their social media posts discussing their service.
The announcement came after The HRF issued an alert online that it had information that Israel was "attempting to smuggle" the Israeli soldier out of Brazil "because of investigative measures against him."
"This is not only a scandal but an affront to Brazil's sovereignty and rule of law," it said.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid lambasted the need for a soldier to flee a country where they were vacationing in the dark of night to evade investigation as "a huge political failure." He described the cause of the man's potential arrest as "fighting in Gaza."
"How did we get to the point where the Palestinians are better than the Israeli government in the international arena?" he said on X.
Israeli soldier flees Brazil amid Gaza war crimes investigation
Jan. 6 (UPI) -- An Israeli soldier accused of committing war crimes in Gaza has fled Brazil where he was vacationing when the case was brought against him in the South American country.
The unidentified soldier is accused of participating in the mass demolition of civilian homes in Gaza amid Israel's war against Iran-backed Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
The Brazilian authorities last week took up the case based on a complaint filed by the pro-Palestinian Hind Rajab Foundation, which said the alleged crimes "are part of a broader effort to impose unbearable living conditions on Palestinian civilians, constituting genocide and crimes against humanity under international law."
The soldier's escape from Brazil was confirmed in a Sunday statement from Israel's foreign ministry.
"Following an attempt last weekend by anti-Israeli elements to investigate a discharged Israeli soldier who visited Brazil, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar immediately activated the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the Israeli citizen was not in danger," the ministry said, CNN reported.
Sa'ar had the ministry's Consular Section and embassy in Brazil accompany the soldier "throughout the event until his swift and safe departure from Brazil," the ministry said, according to The Times of Israel.
The ministry framed the investigation as an anti-Israel assault targeting its soldiers abroad, warning those in uniform that some may seek to exploit their social media posts discussing their service.
The announcement came after The HRF issued an alert online that it had information that Israel was "attempting to smuggle" the Israeli soldier out of Brazil "because of investigative measures against him."
"This is not only a scandal but an affront to Brazil's sovereignty and rule of law," it said.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid lambasted the need for a soldier to flee a country where they were vacationing in the dark of night to evade investigation as "a huge political failure." He described the cause of the man's potential arrest as "fighting in Gaza."
"How did we get to the point where the Palestinians are better than the Israeli government in the international arena?" he said on X.