HRF Files Complaint in Vietnam Against Israeli Reservist Matan Jerafi for War Crimes and Genocide

7 August 2026, Brussels, Belgium / Hanoi, Vietnam – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) filed a criminal complaint with Vietnamese authorities against Matan Jerafi, an Israeli reservist and CEO of the Israeli Zionist NGO Im Tirtzu, currently vacationing in Vietnam.

Jerafi, a member of the 920th Infantry Battalion of the 769th Brigade, documented his deployment to Gaza and to southern Lebanon and his direct involvement in the unlawful destruction of civilian property. The complaint alleges that Jerafi committed war crimes and acts of genocide, as well as incited others to commit genocide.

Extensive Destruction of Civilian Property

Evidence indicates that Jerafi took part in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in central Gaza, including the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps, as well as in the Shuja'iyya and Rimal neighborhoods of Gaza City, between December 2023 and January 2024. He was subsequently deployed to southern Lebanon between October and November 2024, where he continued to destroy civilian infrastructure. 

HRF submitted that these acts constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 85(3)(a) of Additional Protocol I and Articles 8(2)(a)(iv), 8(2)(b)(ii) and 8(2)(b)(v) of the Rome Statute, as well as acts of genocide under Article II(3) of the Genocide Convention and Article 6(c) of the Rome Statute.

Incitement to Genocide

Matan Jerafi has also made a series of public statements advocating the forcible removal, killing and starvation of the Palestinian population. Not only has he framed the acknowledgement of Palestinian civilian casualties, especially children, as treasonous and made explicit statements assimilating the entire Palestinian population to Hamas, justifying their targeting without any 'mercy', he has also advocated for the permanent removal of the population, condemned the airdropping of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and disseminated material advocating for a new Nakba.

"Gaza's civilians are part of Hamas—brothers and sisters, cousins, neighbours. Everyone is connected to terrorism, whether directly or indirectly. We must not have mercy on them: "He who is merciful to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the merciful." We are Jews, but we must also understand that Gaza is one enormous nest of terrorism."

– Matan Jerafi, 1 February 2024

"There shouldn't be an agreement without emigration. At the very least, they should start advancing the whole issue of emigration. (…) So it's not only about removing the threat and not only about eliminating Hamas, but also about emigration."

– Matan Jerafi, 9 July 2025

These statements amount to direct and public incitement to genocide under Article III(c) of the Genocide Convention and Article 25(3)(e) of the Rome Statute.

Call to Action for Vietnamese Authorities

Vietnam is a signatory to the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention. Under the principle of universal jurisdiction and its treaty obligations, Vietnam has a duty to investigate and prosecute individuals present on its territory who are suspected of committing grave international crimes, regardless of where those crimes occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator.

Dyab Abou Jahjah, Director General at HRF:

“Matan Jerafi’s culpability extends far beyond his direct participation in war crimes and acts of genocide on the ground. He has weaponized his public platform to actively advocate for the continuation and escalation of this genocidal campaign. By openly calling for the starvation, removal, and killing of Gaza’s civilian population, he demonstrated a sustained commitment to extermination that demands immediate judicial scrutiny.”

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF:

“Vietnam, as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention, has a clear legal obligation to investigate HRF’s serious allegations. It is unacceptable that Matan Jerafi is vacationing among the Vietnamese people after having actively participated in and publicly incited the genocide of Palestinians. Impunity cannot be granted on foreign soil; Vietnam must uphold its international duties by detaining Mr. Jerafi and initiating a thorough investigation.”