HRF Files Criminal Complaint in the Netherlands Against Israeli Soldier Almog Harari for War Crimes and Genocide in Gaza

20 July 2026, Amsterdam / The Netherlands – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint in the Netherlands against Israeli soldier Almog Harari, serving in the 432nd Battalion (“Tzabar”) of the Givati Brigade, for his alleged involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The complaint details how the 432nd Battalion—including Harari, who was deployed with the unit at the time—allegedly participated in the forcible transfer of civilians and the burning of an entire school complex, including Aleppo Elementary Mixed School B, in Beit Lahia in October 2024.

Systematic Destruction of Civilian Shelters

According to evidence compiled by HRF, including geolocated social media posts, satellite imagery, and witness testimony, the 432nd Battalion executed orders under the so-called “Generals’ Plan” to depopulate northern Gaza. This strategy relied on the systematic demolition of residential neighborhoods, schools, and civilian shelters to render Palestinian return impossible.

The strategy to depopulate northern Gaza relied on the systematic demolition of residential neighborhoods, schools and civilian shelters to render Palestinian return impossible. (Left: the destruction of Hamad Bin Khalifa School. Right: the destruction of Aleppo Elementary Mixed School “B,” both in Gaza.)

Key Allegations Against Almog Harari

In late October 2024, the 432nd Battalion surrounded and emptied a school complex in Beit Lahia, forcibly displacing hundreds of families under violent and coercive conditions. Drone footage and witness testimony document soldiers rounding up residents, separating men from women and children, and detaining men who were later seen blindfolded and bound outside the school complex. Civilians attempting to flee along unauthorized routes were subjected to drone and artillery strikes, while those following designated evacuation routes also came under fire.

Immediately following the forcible displacement, the 432nd Battalion set the abandoned school buildings on fire, rendering them uninhabitable and preventing the displaced residents from returning.

The complaint presents the destruction of schools used as civilian shelters as a violation of international humanitarian law that constitutes war crimes, including attacks on protected educational facilities, extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity, and attacks on undefended buildings.

Furthermore, HRF argues these acts amount to genocide by inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian group in Gaza, consistent with findings by the UN Commission of Inquiry and international experts. 

By depriving the Palestinian population of access to adequate shelter and education, Harari and his battalion served as a central instrument in the implementation of Israel’s genocide. Their actions not only destroyed essential means of survival but also obstructed any possibility of recovery or reconstruction, contributing to the systematic erasure of Palestinian life in Gaza. 

According to testimony published by Drop Site News, a sergeant from Harari’s battalion confirmed their unit’s objectives and intent: "You just need to destroy the neighborhood, so that they can’t come back there. Why to destroy? That’s the mission; that’s what I carry out. (…) It's an order—destroy the neighborhood so Arabs can't return."

Israeli soldier Almog Harari, who served in the Givati Brigade’s 432nd Battalion (“Tzabar”), is accused of involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Statements from the Hind Rajab Foundation

Dyab Abou Jahjah, Director General at HRF:

“Almog Harari served in a battalion explicitly tasked with ‘destroying neighbourhoods’ so that Palestinians cannot return. His unit especially played an active role in the deliberate obliteration of Palestinian shelters, educational infrastructure, and cultural identity in North Gaza. By burning schools that served as lifelines for displaced families, they did not merely destroy buildings. They executed a calculated campaign to erase the future of an entire generation.”

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF:

“The evidence against Almog Harari establishes strong suspicion of his involvement in war crimes and acts of genocide. The forcible transfer of civilians from a school complex, followed by the deliberate destruction of those same shelters to prevent return, are undoubtedly unlawful and must be punished.
Under international law, the Netherlands has a strict obligation to prosecute or extradite individuals suspected of such crimes present on its territory. Allowing Harari to remain free constitutes a breach of this duty, especially for a country that claims to be proud of hosting the International Criminal Court and champions international justice.”

HRF’s International Litigation Work

This complaint forms part of HRF's broader international strategy to pursue individual criminal responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide committed in Gaza.

Since 2024, HRF has submitted more than 90 criminal complaints and other legal filings across more than 30 jurisdictions. These proceedings have resulted in a range of procedural developments, including arrests, police interrogations, and criminal investigations in countries including Brazil, Peru, Canada, and Greece.

Through this offensive litigation strategy, HRF seeks to ensure that individuals accused of international crimes cannot evade accountability by traveling or residing outside Israel.