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Criminal Complaint Filed in the United Kingdom
The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation has submitted a criminal complaint in the United Kingdom against Lidor Dafna, an Israeli reservist. The filing accuses Dafna of participating in war crimes during military operations in Gaza, specifically pointing to the May 2025 demolition of a flour-producing facility while a blockade caused widespread starvation.
According to the foundation, the case relies on digital material self-published by Dafna, which allegedly shows an Israeli military bulldozer destroying wheat silos in southern Gaza. The organization named itself after Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl killed alongside relatives in Gaza City in January 2024.
Utilizing Digital Evidence and International Protocols
The foundation bases its legal strategy on content posted by military personnel on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and Telegram. Natacha Bracq, head of litigation at the foundation, stated that investigators follow the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations to verify and analyze the material.
- Geolocating every frame against satellite imagery
- Matching buildings, roads, and destruction patterns
- Cross-referencing military sources to connect suspects to documented acts
International lawyer Khaled al-Shouli noted that while social media content provides valuable material, legal proceedings require proving the direct responsibility of a specific individual rather than mere presence at a location.
International Actions and Universal Jurisdiction
The organization's legal actions have resulted in scrutiny across multiple nations. In Belgium, a similar foundation complaint led federal police to detain and question two Israeli soldiers before releasing them, with the case later forwarded to the International Criminal Court. In Canada, former combat soldier Guy Hochman was interrogated at Toronto Pearson Airport following a war crimes complaint, resulting in the revocation of his visa.
A filing in Brazil led a judge to order an investigation into an Israeli soldier accused of planting explosives and demolishing civilian neighborhoods, though the suspect departed the country before detention.
Al Jazeera reached out to the UK's Metropolitan Police for comment regarding the latest filing, but has not yet received a response. The Hind Rajab Foundation stated its intention to broaden its legal focus to include companies and individuals supplying weapons.
Source: Israeli soldier visiting UK faces war crimes complaint