Peru Opens the Door to Prosecution: Genocide Case Against Israeli Soldier Moves into Human Rights Investigation Phase

Peru is the first country to acknowledge not only its jurisdiction but also the nature of the crimes committed

The Republic of Peru has formally assigned the genocide case filed by the HRF against an Israeli soldier to its Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office, transitioning the case from jurisdictional review to the preliminary investigative phase.

This procedural step confirms that the Peruvian Public Ministry is now examining the evidence submitted, rather than assessing whether it has the authority to proceed. In practical terms, the case has entered the early stages of criminal investigation, under the framework of Peru’s obligations under the Rome Statute and international humanitarian law.

The complaint—submitted by human rights lawyer Julio César Arbizu González on behalf of the Hind Rajab Foundation—concerns the actions of a combat engineering soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. The individual is alleged to have taken part in the destruction of civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure in Gaza, as part of broader military operations conducted by the Combat Engineering Corps, a unit repeatedly linked to mass demolitions and targeted attacks on protected civilian objects.

“This development signals a clear shift: Peru is now reviewing the substance of the case,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, Chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation. “This is not about theoretical jurisdiction—it is about the facts, the evidence, and accountability for the crimes committed in Gaza.”

By assigning the case to its specialized human rights prosecution unit, Peru has taken an important step toward ensuring that allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity are given appropriate legal scrutiny. The move reflects growing recognition that the scale and nature of the destruction in Gaza requires legal response—not only political commentary.

The Hind Rajab Foundation has compiled hundreds of case files targeting members of the Israeli Combat Engineering Corps, and is currently submitting these in multiple jurisdictions. The Peruvian case is among the first to reach this stage of official prosecutorial examination.

This step does not resolve the case, but it demonstrates that legal systems can be engaged, and that claims concerning grave violations of international law in Gaza are beginning to receive the attention they warrant.