Israeli War Crimes Suspect at ‘Healing Retreat’ For War Criminals in Greece: HRF Files Complaint

Naor Shlomo Dadon

Athens – 19 September 2025
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The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has submitted a formal criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance in Athens against Naor Shlomo Dadon, a soldier in the Israeli army’s Givati Brigade, 432nd Infantry Battalion ‘Tzabar’, for his alleged role in war crimes and acts of genocide during Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The complaint was filed on 19 September 2025 by Greek human rights lawyer Evgenia Koniaki, on behalf of HRF. It is based on a 70-page investigative report prepared by HRF, documenting Dadon’s deployment in Gaza, his unit’s direct role in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and his own public celebration of those actions via social media.

A soldier who documented his own crimes

Naor Shlomo Dadon served in Gaza from at least August 2024 through August 2025. As a member of the 432nd Battalion, Dadon was part of a military campaign that levelled neighborhoods in Rafah and Jabalia, displaced tens of thousands, and destroyed schools, homes, and public infrastructure.

HRF’s evidence includes:

• His confirmed presence during the arson and demolition of civilian areas
• Participation in the burning of Hamad Bin Khalifa School, which had sheltered displaced civilians
• Instagram posts glorifying destruction, including flag-raising over ruined UNRWA buildings
• Posing for photos while grilling food in a besieged zone amid mass starvation

These materials, archived and verified using forensic capture tools, are now part of the official complaint submitted to Greek authorities.

A “healing retreat” for genocidaires

Dadon is currently in Zagora, Magnesia, attending a retreat hosted by the Israeli organization Rising Heroes, which offers “mental resilience” programs for Israeli combat veterans. According to Rising Heroes, these retreats aim to help soldiers “process trauma” and prepare to return to service “stronger.”

But this is not rehabilitation—it is impunity disguised as wellness. While Gaza lies in ruins and survivors are left to bury their families, the perpetrators are given nature walks and therapy sessions in Greek mountain villages.

These retreats serve not only to shield war criminals from accountability, but also to reintegrate them into military service as if their only burden is emotional fatigue, not legal responsibility for acts of genocide.

“There can be no safe haven in Europe for individuals who took part in the destruction of a civilian population. These so-called ‘healing retreats’ are not post-traumatic support—they are post-atrocity sanctuaries. While Palestinian families sift through rubble for their loved ones, the men who helped bury them are offered yoga and fresh air in the Greek mountains.

Dyab Abou Jahjah, Chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation”

Legal obligations under Greek and International Law

The complaint urges Greek authorities to exercise universal jurisdiction, citing:

• Article 8 of the Greek Penal Code and Article 28 of the Greek Constitution
• The Fourth Geneva Convention
• The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Under these instruments, Greece has a duty to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, regardless of nationality, when they are present on Greek territory.

Charges and evidence

The complaint requests that Greek authorities initiate criminal proceedings for:

• Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to education without any military objective (Article 8(2)(b)(ix), Rome Statute)
• Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives, war crime under the Rome Statute (Article 8(2)(b)(ii), Rome Statute)
• Extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, grave breach of the Geneva Conventions (Article 147 GC IV) and war crime under the Rome Statute (Article 8 (2) (a) (iv), Rome Statute)
• Attacking or bombarding, by whatever means, towns, villages, dwellings or buildings which are undefended and which are not military objectives, war crimes under the Rome Statute (Article 8 (2) (b) (v), Rome Statute) 
• Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to destroy a people, constituting genocide (Article 6(c), Rome Statute).

Precedent: The Ohana case

Earlier this month, HRF filed a similar complaint in Greece against Yair Ohana, another soldier from the 432nd Battalion. That complaint—filed on 3 September—was formally transferred to the Preliminary Investigation Department of the Corfu Court of First Instance.

“The Greek authorities’ decision to open a preliminary investigation was a significant step. The same legal principles apply here. Greece must now show consistency by opening an investigation into Naor Shlomo Dadon and ensuring that justice is pursued without exception.

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at the Hind Rajab Foundation​”