HRF Files Criminal Complaint Leading to Swiss Investigation of a Suspected Israeli War Criminal

“Bern, Switzerland – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) confirms that it has formally filed a criminal complaint before Swiss authorities, leading to the opening of an investigation into a suspected Israeli war criminal currently present in Switzerland. The complaint provides extensive evidence implicating the individual in war crimes and crimes against humanity, including attacks on civilians, destruction of homes and hospitals, forced displacement, and other grave violations of international law committed in the Gaza Strip.”

This Swiss investigation comes at a time of mounting international legal action against Israeli crimes in Gaza. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their role in directing and overseeing these crimes. However, accountability must not stop at high-ranking officials—the individuals who carried out these atrocities on the ground must also be brought to justice.

The ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza, as described by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has involved systematic killing of civilians, mass destruction, and the deliberate targeting of essential infrastructure. While political and military leaders bear responsibility for planning and ordering these crimes, individual soldiers and officers who carried them out must also face the full force of international law. War crimes are not committed by policies alone—they are executed by those who pull the trigger, drop the bombs, and enforce inhumane policies against innocent civilians.

For decades, Israeli officials and military personnel have operated with total impunity, protected by political and diplomatic shields. However, the principle of universal jurisdiction means that war criminals can and will be prosecuted wherever they are found. The days of hiding behind state policies or claiming to "follow orders" as a defense are over. Perpetrators—whether high-ranking officials or individual executioners—will face justice.

The Hind Rajab Foundation welcomes Switzerland’s commitment to upholding international law and ensuring that war criminals do not find safe haven on its territory. This investigation sends a clear message: there will be no sanctuary for those who commit war crimes, regardless of rank or nationality.

At this stage, we will not disclose further details to protect the integrity of the legal proceedings. However, the HRF remains fully engaged in supporting the pursuit of justice and accountability for all perpetrators of Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

The HRF will continue to monitor this case and provide legal and investigative support to international efforts aimed at ensuring that every individual responsible for crimes against the Palestinian people is held accountable.