Hind Rajab Foundation Files Urgent Legal Complaint in France Against Israeli Soldier for Acts of Torture and War Crimes

December 6, 2024 – The Hind Rajab Foundation is filing an urgent legal complaint in France against Roi Hakimi, an Israeli soldier implicated in acts of torture and enforced disappearances during the recent Israeli assault on Gaza. Mr. Hakimi is currently on a tourism visit in France.

Details of the Complaint

​The complain, under French criminal law, alleges that Roi Hakimi, a Master Sergeant in the Palhod Unit of the Nahal Brigade, participated in grave violations of international law during the Israeli military offensive. Hakimi’s own social media posts serve as key evidence, including photos and videos that show him in Gaza, armed and in military uniform, documenting scenes of destruction, detainees in degrading conditions, and actions suggestive of violations of international humanitarian law.

One particularly damning image shows Palestinian detainees, bound and stripped to their undergarments, standing in freezing temperatures amid the ruins of Gaza at night. The complaint asserts that these acts constitute torture and enforced disappearances, both of which are prohibited under international law and codified as crimes under French law.

France’s Legal Obligation

Under Articles 689-1, 689-2, and 689-13 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure, French courts have jurisdiction over international crimes, including torture and enforced disappearances, if the accused is present in France. Roi Hakimi is currently on French territory, as confirmed by his own social media activity, which places him in a ski resort in Savoie.

“The Hind Rajab Foundation is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes do not find refuge, even outside the zones of conflict”

The Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), ratified by both France and Israel, obligates state parties to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of torture. Similarly, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (UNCERD) mandates the criminalization and prosecution of enforced disappearances. Both conventions establish that these crimes are universally prohibited and subject to no statute of limitations.

French law mirrors these obligations. Torture is punishable under Article 222-1 of the French Penal Code, while enforced disappearance is a criminal offense under Article 222-12, with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment.

A Call for Justice

“The Hind Rajab Foundation is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes do not find refuge, even outside the zones of conflict,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, Chairman of the Foundation. “France’s legal system is equipped to act decisively against such grave violations of human rights and international law. Roi Hakimi’s presence on French soil presents an urgent opportunity to uphold justice.”

The Foundation stresses the importance of swift action to investigate these allegations, not only to hold Roi Hakimi accountable but also to send a clear message that impunity for war crimes will not be tolerated.

Part of a Broader Campaign

This legal filing is part of the Hind Rajab Foundation’s broader campaign to combat the impunity surrounding crimes committed in Gaza. The Foundation has previously submitted complaints to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has initiated proceedings against other individuals in various national jurisdictions. By mobilizing both international and domestic legal frameworks, the Foundation seeks to deliver justice to Palestinian victims and prevent further atrocities.

Roi Hakimi In Gaza during the genocide