Hind Rajab Foundation Files War Crimes Complaint in Germany Against Israeli Extremist Elkana Federman for Torture and Starvation of Civilians

Berlin, October 31, 2025 — The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint before the German Federal Prosecutor (Generalbundesanwalt) in Karlsruhe against Elkana Federman, an Israeli national affiliated with the Kfir Brigade’s Battalion 94 (Duchifat) and the extremist organization Tsav 9, for war crimes and crimes against humanity under the German Code of Crimes Against International Law (VStGB). The complaint, submitted by Attorney Melanie Schweizer on behalf of the Foundation, demands the immediate arrest of Federman and the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant. The filing is based on extensive digital evidence showing his direct involvement in acts of torture and the systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Elkana Federman is currently in Berlin, where he appeared on October 30, 2025, as a speaker at a public propaganda event.

Torture and Abuse of Prisoners

Videos and public statements by Federman reveal his participation in and glorification of the abuse of Palestinian detainees.
In one widely circulated interview, Federman boasts about taking his dog “to Gaza as a fighter” and claims the animal “dealt with Palestinian prisoners” at the Sde Teiman detention facility, where human rights organizations — including B’Tselem — have documented systematic torture, sexual violence, and inhuman treatment.
The complaint notes that Federman’s statements were made in a public setting, eliciting laughter from interviewers and panelists, highlighting the normalization of torture within the military and settler extremist culture he represents.

Such actions fall under §7(1) Nr. 5 and Nr. 6 VStGB, which criminalize torture and sexual violence as crimes against humanity.

Starvation of Civilians as a Weapon

Federman is also a prominent member of Tsav 9, a far-right Israeli group sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for blocking humanitarian aid convoys bound for Gaza.
Through multiple videos and social media posts, Federman personally participated in and encouraged others to physically obstruct trucks carrying food and medicine.

Such actions directly contributed to the starvation of civilians, a method of warfare prohibited under §11(1) Nr. 5 VStGB, which defines the deliberate deprivation of food as a war crime.
The complaint references UN reports confirming that hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have died from hunger in 2025 due to Israel’s blockade and obstruction of humanitarian relief.

Federman is a leading member of the Group Tsav 9 considered an extremist violent group by the U.S

Universal Jurisdiction and Accountability

Under Germany’s universal jurisdiction, crimes under the VStGB can be prosecuted regardless of the perpetrator’s nationality or where the crimes occurred.
The Hind Rajab Foundation calls on the German Federal Prosecutor to:

1. Open a criminal investigation into Elkana Federman;
2. Order his pre-trial detention due to the risk of flight;
3. Issue a European Arrest Warrant to ensure his apprehension within EU territory.

Federman was reportedly sighted in Berlin on October 30, 2025, underscoring the urgency of the request.

Statement from the Hind Rajab Foundation

“

The deliberate starvation of an entire population and the torture of prisoners are among the gravest crimes known to humanity,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, Director of the Hind Rajab Foundation.
“Elkana Federman’s conduct, proudly displayed online and tolerated within Israeli society, embodies the cruelty and impunity that have defined this genocide. Germany has both the legal authority and the moral duty to act.

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This filing follows the Hind Rajab Foundation’s complaint in Germany against IDF officer Shimon Avi Zuckerman, as well as similar actions by NGOs targeting an Israeli sniper. The case of Elkana Federman, however, offers a unique opportunity for Germany to act decisively, as he is affiliated with Tsav 9, a group already designated by the United States as violent and extremist. Taking legal action in this case would affirm Germany’s commitment to international law, human rights, and accountability, and demonstrate that justice applies equally—regardless of political sensitivities or alliances.