HRF Seeks Arrest of Israeli Soldier in Spain Over the Destruction of Beit Hanoun

Barcelona / Brussels – 3 December 2025

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint in Spain against Israeli soldier Benayau Nahum for his alleged responsibility in genocide and serious war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the northern town of Beit Hanoun.

The complaint was submitted after confirming that the suspect was present on Spanish territory, triggering Spain’s obligations under international law to investigate and prosecute grave international crimes. HRF has formally requested the urgent arrest of the suspect to prevent his departure and to ensure accountability.

Nahum Posing in Barcelona after genocide and war crimes in Gaza.

The Accused and His Military Unit

Benayau Nahum served as a soldier in the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the 900th Kfir Brigade. This unit has a long record of serious human rights violations, including:

• The killing of unarmed civilians,
• Abuse and torture of detainees,
• Extrajudicial killings,
• And the systematic destruction of Palestinian property.

The battalion has previously been implicated in internationally condemned cases and has repeatedly operated in occupied Palestinian territory with near-total impunity. Its presence in Gaza formed part of Israel’s large-scale ground operations in the north of the Strip.

Destruction of Beit Hanoun

Between late 2024 and early 2025, Beit Hanoun was subjected to near-total destruction as part of a broader military strategy aimed at emptying northern Gaza of its population. Entire neighborhoods were set on fire, leveled by heavy machinery, and erased from the map.

The evidence in HRF’s possession places Benayau Nahum directly on the ground during these operations. It shows his participation in systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes and public buildings, at a time when Beit Hanoun was already largely depopulated and defenseless.

The scale of destruction in northern Gaza during this period rendered vast areas uninhabitable and made return impossible for most of the displaced population.

Nahum Taking Part in The Genocide of Gaza

Legal Qualification of the Crimes

The complaint accuses Benayau Nahum of:

• Genocide, for contributing to conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of part of the Palestinian population;
• War crimes, including:
• • Extensive destruction of civilian property not justified by military necessity;
  • Attacks against civilian buildings and undefended towns;
  • Participation in the forcible displacement of a protected civilian population.

Under international humanitarian law, civilian objects are strictly protected. The large-scale, methodical destruction documented in Beit Hanoun cannot be justified by any lawful military objective.

Spain’s Obligation to Act

Spain is bound by international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, to either prosecute or extradite individuals suspected of committing genocide and war crimes when they are found on its territory.

Given the presence of the suspect in Spain and the lack of genuine proceedings elsewhere, HRF has requested:

• The opening of a criminal investigation;
• The immediate detention of the suspect;
• And the adoption of urgent measures to prevent his escape.

Breaking the Wall of Impunity

This complaint is part of HRF’s broader effort to dismantle the system of impunity protecting perpetrators of crimes against the Palestinian people. It sends a clear message that:

Participation in genocide and war crimes carries personal criminal responsibility, wherever the perpetrator may attempt to hide.

HRF continues to pursue similar cases across multiple jurisdictions and will not relent until justice is served.