Hind Rajab Foundation Files Cases and Demands Immediate Arrest of Israeli War Criminal Saar Hirshoren in Argentina and Chile, Targets Entire 749 Combat Engineering Battalion at the ICC

Saar Hirshoren in a civilian home in Gaza

Buenos Aires/Argentina
Santiago/Chile
The Hague/ The Netherlands

The Hind Rajab Foundation has initiated legal actions in Argentina and Chile against Saar Hirshoren, a member of Israel's 749 Combat Engineering Battalion who is currently present there. Mr. Hirshoren is accountable for war crimes committed in Gaza, the HRF is demanding his immediate arrest. Simultaneously, a comprehensive complaint has been filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) targeting the entire battalion and its leadership for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

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Argentina: Case Against Saar Hirshoren

In Argentina, the Hind Rajab Foundation filed a criminal complaint targeting Saar Hirshoren, identified in the Patagonia region. The case, submitted to the Federal Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Against Humanity in Buenos Aires, demands his immediate arrest. The complaint highlights:

• Video evidence from Hirshoren’s Instagram account, showing him actively participating in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
• His role in the deliberate demolition of neighborhoods, cultural sites, and essential facilities, violating the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute.

Argentina, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is obligated to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of such grave offenses.
(for more info on the Argentina case contact our Legal Counsel Mr. Rodolfo Yanzon ([email protected])

Chile: Follow-Up Complaint Against Saar Hirshoren

After leaving Argentina, Hirshoren traveled to Chile, prompting the Hind Rajab Foundation to file a second criminal complaint. Submitted to prosecutors in Santiago and Aysén, the Chilean complaint includes:

• Geolocation evidence confirming Hirshoren’s presence in the Chile Chico region.
• Evidence of his involvement in war crimes, including demolitions documented on social media and through witness accounts.
• A request for urgent legal actions, including an arrest order and travel restrictions to prevent his escape.

Chile’s adherence to the Rome Statute and domestic legislation (Ley 20.357) empowers its courts to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
(For more info on the Chile case contact our Legal Counsel Mr. Hugo Gutierrez:  [email protected]​ )

The ICC Complaint Against the 749 Combat Engineering Battalion

On December 24, 2024, the Hind Rajab Foundation submitted a detailed complaint to the ICC, targeting the entire 749 Combat Engineering Battalion. The complaint names 24 key members of the battalion for their roles in systematically destroying civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including:

• Lt. Col. Harel Maimon (Battalion Commander)
• Lt. Col. Adi Bekore (Deputy Commander), who publicly declared the mission to "flatten Gaza."
• Oz Veiner (Company A Commander)
• Yaakov Sattlar (Company B Commander)
• Daniel Vidaker (Company C Commander)
• Amit Pinto (Company D Commander)
• Tal Peretz (D9 Commander)
• David Zoldan (Operational Officer), who celebrated the bombing of Al-Azhar University on social media.
• Other key figures, including Maya Radoszkowicz, Ori Fadida, Yossi Nahari, Shay Cohen, Omri Heller, and Saar Hirshoren.

The ICC case outlines violations including:

• Genocide: Intent to destroy the Palestinian population in Gaza.
• Crimes Against Humanity: Mass murder, deportation, torture, and attacks on civilian populations.
• War Crimes: Targeting civilian objects, causing excessive collateral damage, and using unlawful methods of warfare.

The ICC complaint seeks arrest warrants for all identified members of the battalion, citing their direct involvement in the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure and the targeting of civilians.

Evidence Against the 749 Battalion

The legal actions in Argentina, Chile, and the ICC are supported by extensive evidence, including:

• Social media posts and videos from battalion members showing the destruction of civilian homes, schools, and hospitals.
• Public admissions by battalion leaders indicating their intent to target civilians and infrastructure.
• Satellite imagery and reports from international organizations documenting the scale of the destruction caused by the battalion.

One particularly egregious incident involved the bombing of Al-Azhar University in December 2023, where operational officer David Zoldan mocked Gaza’s higher education in videos celebrating the attack.

Call for Accountability

The Hind Rajab Foundation demands the immediate arrest of Saar Hirshoren by authorities in Argentina and Chile, emphasizing the urgency of preventing him from evading justice. Concurrently, the Foundation calls on the ICC to expedite its investigation into the 749 Combat Engineering Battalion and issue arrest warrants for its members. These actions are necessary to uphold international law and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes in Gaza.
These cases highlight the urgent need for international cooperation to ensure that those responsible for heinous crimes face accountability. The Foundation urges the global community to support these efforts and reaffirm the principles of international justice and the rule of law.

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