Boastful Destruction: Rabbi Zarbiv's Crimes in Gaza Unveiled. HRF Files Complaint, Demands Arrest

“The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a complaint with the ICC and called for the immediate arrest of Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, an Israeli soldier in the Givati Brigade, based on his individual criminal responsibility under Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute. Zarbiv stands accused of committing grave war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023.”

Zarbiv in Gaza

Criminal Acts and Evidence

Rabbi Zarbiv's crimes are well-documented through his own public admissions and video evidence. On January 22, 2025, Zarbiv appeared in a televised interview where he openly admitted to:

• Destroying 50 buildings per week in Gaza, targeting private homes, schools, hospitals, and aid facilities.
• Participating in the complete destruction of entire neighborhoods, such as Jabalia, Rafah, and other towns.
• Publicly inciting violence and hatred, including endorsing the killing of Palestinian civilians and the obliteration of their communities.

In the interview, Zarbiv boasted about "playing" on a D9 bulldozer, describing the deliberate demolition of homes and the obliteration of Gaza’s infrastructure. He confirmed the Givati Brigade's systematic targeting of civilian areas and its role in rendering entire towns uninhabitable.

Additionally, video evidence dated February 7, 2024, shows Zarbiv and his team throwing hand grenades and firing at unarmed Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis. These acts constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law.

Legal Basis for Arrest

The crimes attributed to Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and violations of the Rome Statute, including:

• Article 8(2)(e)(i): War crime of attacking civilians.
• Article 8(2)(b)(iv): Extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity.
• Article 8(2)(b)(i): Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects.

Additionally, Zarbiv's incitement and participation in arson and violence against civilians are recognized as crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.

The Call for Accountability

The Hind Rajab Foundation has compiled and submitted video and photographic evidence of Zarbiv’s war crimes to relevant international legal bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). His own public statements and videos leave no doubt about his role in the mass destruction and targeting of civilians.

It is imperative that Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv is apprehended and prosecuted without delay. His actions, and the impunity that often shields perpetrators of such crimes, cannot go unchallenged.