HRF Files Criminal Complaint in Georgia Against Israeli Civilian Contractor Sali Israel Hazut for War Crimes and Genocide

6 September 2026, Brussels, Belgium / Tbilisi, Geogia – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint before the Georgian Public Prosecutor’s Office against Israeli citizen and owner of a demolition company, Sali Israel Hazut, for his alleged involvement in war crimes and acts of genocide committed during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

HRF has documented Hazut’s role as a civilian contractor hired by the Israeli army to operate heavy machinery employed in the destruction of Palestinian homes, schools, and infrastructure in Gaza. Hazut is currently vacationing in Batumi, Georgia.

Civilian Contractors in Military Operations

While much attention has focused on uniformed soldiers, emerging evidence reveals that the systematic destruction of Gaza was significantly outsourced to private companies and contractors. From 2024 onwards, the Israeli Ministry of Defense recruited civilian operators to drive bulldozers and excavators under military supervision. This system allowed the physical erasure of neighborhoods to be carried out by civilians paid for their labor.

Sali Israel Hazut is one such contractor. Since May 2025, Hazut has documented his activities extensively on social media, posting videos of himself operating excavators to demolish residential buildings and other civilian objects in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Shujaiyah, Al-Atatra, and Khan Younis.

Sali Israel Hazut was hired by the Israeli army to operate heavy machinery used in the destruction of Palestinian homes, schools, and infrastructure in Gaza—he recorded and celebrated the destruction.

Celebrating Destruction

Hazut recorded and celebrated the destruction he carried out. His posts include:

• Video montages commemorating the destruction of hundreds of buildings.
• Footage filmed inside Palestinian homes showing him destroying household items and mocking a resident who recognized his own home being razed.
• Statements boasting about the destruction he caused and his months of “non-stop action.”

Hazut’s actions may constitute war crimes, specifically:

• Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects;
• Extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity; and
• Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to education, religion, or charitable purposes.

These acts may amount to genocide. By deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian group—through the total eradication of housing and civilian infrastructure—these operations meet the criteria outlined in Article II(c) of the Genocide Convention.

Call to Action

The Hind Rajab Foundation calls on Georgian authorities to fulfill their obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute those responsible for international crimes. We urge the Public Prosecutor’s Office to examine the evidence provided and take all necessary steps to prevent Sali Israel Hazut from leaving the country before he is investigated and faces justice. 

Dyab Abou Jahjah, Director General at HRF: 

“The destruction of Gaza was not just carried out by soldiers, but by an entire industrial complex of death, including civilian contractors paid to erase Palestinian lives from the map. Sali Israel Hazut did not hide what he did. He broadcast it, celebrated it, and mocked the victims. Justice demands that no one, whether in uniform or in work boots, escapes prosecution for their complicity in helping to destroy a people.”

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF: 

“Our investigation documents how private earthmoving companies have been turned into instruments of genocide. Hazut’s own social media posts serve as irrefutable evidence of his participation and intent. Universal jurisdiction exists precisely for this scenario: when a state fails to prosecute its own nationals, other states have a duty to act. We expect Georgian authorities to treat this case with the seriousness it deserves and initiate a formal investigation immediately.”