The Hind Rajab Foundation has initiated legal proceedings against Dror Zvi Bauer, an Israeli soldier in the 614th Battalion, Engineering Corps, accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide during the ongoing onslaught on Gaza since October 2023. Legal complaints have been filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as with national authorities in Austria, Germany, and other European jurisdictions. These actions underscore the Foundation’s commitment to utilizing every available legal mechanism to ensure accountability for international crimes. Allegations and Evidence Based on the available evidence, there is strong suspicion that the accused participated in the arbitrary and internationally unlawful destruction of civilian facilities in Gaza (including private homes, hospitals, schools, and aid facilities). According to the enclosed video recordings, the criminal acts occurred in Gaza City and Beit Lahia. Furthermore, the suspect publicly incited hatred and violence against the Palestinian population online, endorsing the killing of Palestinian people and the destruction of their homes in videos. He declared that there were "no uninvolved civilians in Gaza," implying that women, the elderly, and children were not considered innocent. The suspect openly posted these crimes on the “Instagram” platform. The complainant has secured the following evidence and provided it to the prosecutor: ● Video dated November 14, 2023: Shows the suspect, along with other Israeli soldiers, preparing a civilian facility—specifically the home of a Palestinian family—with explosives, saying, "If I don’t see a home, no one has a home." ● Video dated November 15, 2023: The suspect is present as an Israeli bulldozer demolishes a civilian house in Gaza. ● Video dated November 24, 2023: The suspect is seen destroying humanitarian aid facilities and engaging in vandalism at the Zaid Ben Hartha School, a school founded by the German government. ● Video dated November 26, 2023: The suspect prepares another Palestinian private house with explosives, films another soldier causing an explosion, and speaks of “revenge” against displaced Palestinians. Legal Basis for the Complaints The legal actions against Bauer are grounded in multiple international and domestic laws, as follows: International Criminal Court (ICC) The ICC’s jurisdiction is invoked under the Rome Statute, which defines the following crimes:
Austria: Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) The Austrian legal framework incorporates international criminal law under the following provisions:
Germany: Völkerstrafgesetzbuch (VStGB) Germany’s Code of Crimes Against International Law provides the following relevant legal basis:
Urgency and Call for Action The Foundation has emphasized the necessity for immediate action, citing:
The Hind Rajab Foundation’s legal strategy combines international and domestic legal mechanisms to hold Bauer accountable for grave violations of international law. These filings aim not only to secure justice for victims in Gaza but also to reinforce the principle that no individual, regardless of rank or nationality, is above the law. Comments are closed.
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PERPETRATORSA perpetrator of war crimes or crimes against humanity is an individual who directly engages in, orders, or facilitates acts that constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law .
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January 2025
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