HRF Files War Crimes Complaint in Colombia Against Israeli Sniper Gabriel Ben Haim

Gabriel Ben Haim

​Bogotá / Brussels — April 2025
The Hind Rajab Foundation has formally filed a criminal complaint with the Colombian Attorney General’s Office against Gabriel Ben Haim, an Israeli-French dual national and active-duty sniper in the Israeli military, for his alleged involvement in grave violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes, and crimes against humanity perpetrated during Israel’s 2024–2025 military campaign in Gaza.

Ben Haim is identified as a member of the Refaim sniper unit, operating under the 35th Paratroopers Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This unit is implicated in a systematic campaign of extrajudicial killings, targeting of civilians, attacks on medical infrastructure, and destruction of civilian property during incursions into Tel al-Hawa and Khan Younis, among other densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

A Deliberate and Systematic Pattern of Criminal Conduct

The evidence provided includes video documentation, social media records, geospatial analysis, and eyewitness testimonies. The Refaim unit, including Ben Haim, is credibly alleged to have:

• Engaged in lethal sniper fire against unarmed civilians, including individuals attempting to aid the wounded;
• Targeted medical personnel, including the documented killing of a nurse within the operating theater of Nasser Hospital;
• Participated in "sniper competitions" where soldiers openly celebrated kill counts and exchanged footage of civilian executions;
• Disseminated images of mutilated corpses, posed with for propaganda and psychological warfare purposes;
• Contributed to the widespread destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure without any apparent military necessity.

Social media analysis confirms Ben Haim’s operational presence in Gaza during these atrocities, and his integration within a sniper team that functioned as a cohesive unit with shared objectives, tactics, and execution of illegal operations. He is thereby individually and jointly responsible for the crimes committed by the unit.
Legal Basis for Colombian Jurisdiction

While the crimes occurred in the occupied Palestinian territory, the legal complaint rests on solid jurisdictional grounds under Colombian law, including:

• Article 16 (6) of Colombia’s Penal Code, which enables the prosecution of foreign nationals present in Colombia for crimes committed abroad;
• Colombia’s obligations under the Rome Statute, which it ratified via Law 742 of 2002, permitting domestic prosecution of international crimes including war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity;
• The principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows states to prosecute grave crimes of international concern regardless of where they occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator or victims.

Ben Haim is currently present in Colombia, with recent geotagged public posts placing him in Cartagena and the Cocora Valley. There is a clear and present risk that he may leave the country imminently, evading legal accountability.

The Hind Rajab Foundation is calling for the immediate initiation of a formal investigation, issuance of a warrant for Ben Haim’s arrest, and preventive detention pending further proceedings.

A Global Duty to Prevent Impunity​

The complaint emphasizes that allowing individuals credibly implicated in international crimes to travel freely without scrutiny undermines the global fight against impunity and discredits international justice systems. The allegations against Ben Haim are not speculative; they are supported by verifiable material and testimonial evidence.

The Hind Rajab Foundation will continue to pursue accountability for all individuals, regardless of rank or nationality, who have taken part in atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

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