The Hind Rajab Foundation Challenges Lithuania's Failure to Investigate a Suspected War Criminal Before the Constitutional Court

June 29, 2026 – Brussels, Belgium/Vilnius, Lithuania – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has submitted an individual constitutional complaint to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, challenging the country’s refusal to investigate alleged war crimes and genocide committed by an Israeli citizen currently residing in Lithuania. The complaint asserts that the refusal to open a pre-trial investigation effectively grants impunity to alleged perpetrators of international crimes solely because the crimes were committed outside Lithuanian territory. The complaint argues that this refusal violates both the Lithuanian Constitution and Lithuania's binding international obligations.

The legal challenge centers on the case of Sean Gor, an Israeli national studying dentistry at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Evidence documented by the HRF suggests that Gor may have participated in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including the UNRWA headquarters and the attack on the Al-Shifa medical complex in March-April 2024. Gor was part of the Israeli Army’s Vampire Empire Company of the 52nd Battalion in the 401st Brigade. His unit also is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Hind Rajab, her family, and two paramedics in Gaza City on 29 January 2024.

Despite these serious allegations and the suspect's prolonged presence in Lithuania—where he has integrated into the local education system and attended classes alongside Lithuanian students—state authorities have refused to initiate a pre-trial investigation into the alleged crimes.

Sean Gor was deployed to Gaza since the beginning of the war in October 2023 and remained there until at least August 2024. Gor is currently studying dentistry at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

HRF Challenges Lithuania's Restrictive Interpretation of Universal Jurisdiction

On 27 March 2026, HRF submitted a criminal complaint to the Lithuanian Office of the Prosecutor General. On 9 April 2026, the Prosecutor refused to open an investigation, interpreting the principle of universal jurisdiction as an exceptional mechanism that may be applied only under limited circumstances and subject to specific legal conditions in the criminal prosecution of the most serious violations of international law. The decision was upheld by the Vilnius City District Court on 27 April 2026, and by the Vilnius Regional Court on 21 May 2026. Having exhausted all available domestic remedies, HRF has now petitioned Lithuania’s Constitutional Court, arguing that this restrictive interpretation of universal jurisdiction is incompatible with the country’s constitution and binding international obligations.

HRF argues that the position that there is no legal obligation to investigate crimes under international law—including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes—when a suspect is present within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Lithuania is incompatible with the constitutional principles of equality and access to justice, as well as with Lithuania's obligations under international law and the rule of law.

Specifically, HRF argues that Lithuania's refusal to investigate such crimes when a suspect is present on its territory violates:

• The constitutional guarantee of equality before the law under Article 29
• Undermines the right of access to the courts under Article 30
• Disregards the requirement under Article 135(1) to comply with universally recognized principles of international law
• Contravenes Article 138 affirming the binding nature of Lithuania's international obligations, and breaches the broader constitutional principle of the rule of law.

Dyab Abou Jahjah, General Director at HRF:

“The normalization of life for individuals accused of destroying Gaza and committing genocide while they attend university in Lithuania sends a dangerous message. Universal jurisdiction exists precisely to ensure that there is no safe haven for perpetrators of international crimes. When a state allows such individuals to integrate into its society without investigation, it becomes complicit in impunity. Lithuania has a constitutional and moral duty to uphold international law and ensure that its territory is not used as a shield for those accused of war crimes.”

Natacha Bracq, Head of Litigation at HRF:

“Lithuania cannot hide behind procedural technicalities to avoid its international obligations. The Prosecutor’s refusal to investigate based solely on the extraterritorial nature of the alleged crimes contradicts the very purpose of universal jurisdiction. By allowing a suspect to live and study in Lithuania without any judicial scrutiny, the state is failing to fulfill its duty under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. We are asking the Constitutional Court to affirm that the rule of law requires Lithuania to investigate credible allegations of genocide and war crimes, regardless of where they were committed.”

Rytis Satkauskas, Managing Partner at the ReLex Law Firm:

“The constitutional order of the Republic of Lithuania is founded upon respect for the principles of international law and the rules-based international order. Refusing to investigate allegations of international crimes committed in Gaza by a person residing in Lithuania undermines global efforts to combat impunity and ensure accountability for the most serious violations of international law. I am confident that the Constitutional Court will use this opportunity to reaffirm the rule of law and uphold Lithuania’s constitutional and international obligations.”

The Hind Rajab Foundation continues to pursue legal avenues across Europe to hold those responsible for the atrocities in Gaza accountable. This case represents a critical test of whether European states will fulfill their international legal obligations or allow procedural loopholes to protect alleged perpetrators.