HRF Files Criminal Complaint in Austria Against Israeli Soldier Yonatan Akriv

10 January 2026 – Vienna

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint in Austria against Yonatan Akriv, an Israeli soldier accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts contributing to genocide during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The filing follows confirmation that Akriv is present on Austrian territory, a fact that triggers Austria’s obligations under international law to investigate individuals suspected of the gravest crimes when they are found within its jurisdiction.

Yonatan Akriv overseeing destruction in Gaza

From Evidence to Accountability

The complaint is grounded in HRF’s investigative work documenting Akriv’s service with the 8717th “Alon” Battalion, a unit repeatedly linked to the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.

HRF’s findings establish Akriv’s presence during major ground operations and connect him to the deliberate demolition of a civilian structure in northern Gaza. The demolition was controlled, pre-planned, and carried out after full military control had been established, eliminating any claim of battlefield necessity.

Satellite imagery and geolocation analysis confirm that the structure was intact at the beginning of November 2023 and intentionally destroyed weeks later. Akriv subsequently shared footage of the demolition, contributing to a broader pattern in which destruction was documented, circulated, and normalized by those carrying it out.

With this filing, HRF advances from documenting crimes to forcing legal engagement by a European state.

Crimes That Go Beyond a Single Act

The complaint asks Austrian authorities to examine Akriv’s conduct as part of a wider and coordinated campaign rather than an isolated incident. It calls for investigation into:

• War crimes, including the intentional targeting of civilian objects and extensive destruction of property without military necessity;
• Crimes against humanity, as elements of a widespread and systematic attack against Gaza’s civilian population;
• Genocide, through participation in acts that deliberately inflict conditions of life designed to destroy a population by rendering Gaza uninhabitable.

These allegations align with findings by UN bodies that have identified the systematic dismantling of civilian life in Gaza as a defining feature of the campaign.

Austria’s Moment of Responsibility

Austria is a State Party to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and has incorporated international crimes into its domestic legal order. When suspects of such crimes are found on its territory, Austria is not confronted with a political question, but with a legal duty.

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What we are seeing across Europe is a growing gap between legal obligations and political hesitation,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, General Director of HRF.
“By filing this complaint in Austria, we are narrowing that gap. Our determination is clear: 2026 must become a year of justice for the victims of the Gaza genocide, not another year in which perpetrators enjoy impunity.

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Destruction in Gaza was not chaotic or accidental—it followed a method,” said Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF.
“Controlled demolitions of civilian structures are a hallmark of punitive and retaliatory warfare. When these acts are repeated at scale, they cease to be war damage and become evidence of crimes against humanity and genocide.

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Closing the Space for Impunity

This Austrian filing forms part of HRF’s expanding legal strategy across the planet: where suspects travel, jurisdiction follows. The objective is not symbolic condemnation, but concrete legal consequences—investigations, precautionary measures, and ultimately prosecutions.

Europe’s credibility as a space governed by the rule of law will be measured not by statements, but by action. Allowing individuals credibly suspected of atrocities to move freely without scrutiny risks transforming European cities into silent shelters for impunity.

HRF will continue to act wherever the law allows and evidence demands it.