HRF Files Criminal Complaint in Brazil Against Givati Soldier Omri Turgeman

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint in Brazil against Israeli soldier Omri Turgeman, a member of the 424th Infantry Battalion “Shaked” of the Givati Brigade, for his involvement in war crimes and acts of genocide committed in the Gaza Strip.

HRF has already filed several complaints against Israeli soldiers vacationing in Brazil. At the time of the filing, Turgeman was still present in Brazil.

This criminal filing follows HRF’s February 27 investigative report in 2026 that documents Turgeman’s deployment in Gaza between October 2023 and April 2025. The report links Turgeman’s Battalion operating under the 401st Brigade Task Force of the 162nd Division in Gaza to a series of grave crimes.

Documented Crimes in Gaza

The complaint submitted to the relevant authorities in Brazil details Turgeman’s involvement in three major incidents:

• Destruction of Palestine Square (Rimal, Gaza City – December 2023)
  HRF’s investigation establishes the presence of the Shaked Battalion in the occupation and systematic destruction of Palestine Square and surrounding civilian infrastructure. The square, located in a densely populated civilian area, was subjected to arson, bulldozing, and controlled demolitions after Israeli forces established control over the area.
• Attack on Al-Taqwa Mosque (Sheikh Radwan, Gaza City – December 2023)
  Evidence gathered by HRF places members of the Shaked Battalion inside the mosque shortly before its destruction. Photographs show soldiers posing inside the religious site after it had been deliberately set on fire. Satellite imagery confirms that the mosque was destroyed between 26 and 31 December 2023.
• Siege and Attack of Al-Shifa Hospital (Gaza City - March–April 2024)
  HRF has documented the participation of the 401st Task Force, including the Shaked Battalion, in the siege of Gaza’s largest hospital. The operation resulted in mass casualties, the deaths of patients due to deprivation of electricity and medical care, the large-scale destruction of medical infrastructure, and the mass arrest of civilians, including medical personnel. The hospital was rendered inoperable.

The complaint further relies on Turgeman’s own public statements, including a social media post declaring: “It’s not over until Jabalia is destroyed and Shuja’iyya is on fire,” evidencing intent to destroy civilian areas in Gaza and aligning with the broader pattern of destruction documented by HRF and international bodies.

Legal Basis of the Complaint

The complaint invokes Brazil’s legal obligations under:

• The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
• The Geneva Conventions
• The Genocide Convention.

The alleged conduct qualifies as:

• War crimes, including intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects and protected objects.
• Genocide, through the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

HRF’s Global Strategy Against Impunity

This filing forms part of HRF’s broader global strategy to activate domestic jurisdictions wherever suspects credibly implicated in war crimes and acts of genocide committed in Gaza travel.

Dyab Abou Jahjah, General Director of the Hind Rajab Foundation, said:

“Impunity survives because it is tolerated across borders. Our strategy is simple and systematic: wherever jurisdiction exists, we act. National courts are not secondary to international justice—they are essential to it. Every filing narrows the space in which perpetrators of the Gaza genocide can move freely. The era in which war crimes are committed without consequence is coming to an end.”

HRF has filed complaints in multiple jurisdictions across Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, and Asia, as well as submissions before the International Criminal Court, increasing legal pressure on those responsible.

Legal Accountability Under Universal Jurisdiction

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF, emphasized the legal foundations of the case:

“Brazil is bound by its treaty obligations under the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention, to punish those suspected of war crimes and genocide regardless of where the crimes were committed and the nationality of the suspect. When an individual linked to such crimes is present on Brazilian territory, jurisdiction is triggered. Brazilian authorities are not only competent but also obligated to act.”

No Safe Haven

HRF has requested Brazilian authorities to open a formal criminal investigation, take all necessary precautionary measures, and ensure Turgeman does not evade justice.

The filing in Brazil represents another concrete step in dismantling the longstanding architecture of Israeli impunity. Presence activates responsibility. International crimes cannot be evaded through travel.

Justice requires action.