Israel Helps Former Soldier Leave Brazil Over Investigation Into Alleged War Crimes In Gaza | rssama.com

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has helped a erstwhile worker time off Brazil aft ineligible action was initiated against him by a group accusing Israelis of war crimes successful nan Gaza Strip based successful portion connected soldiers’ societal media posts.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry connected Sunday said it had helped nan erstwhile worker safely time off Brazil connected a commercialized formation aft what it described arsenic “anti-Israel elements” sought an investigation past week. It warned Israelis against posting connected societal media astir their subject service.

The Hind Rajab Foundation, named for a 5-year-old Palestinian woman killed successful Gaza, said Brazilian authorities had launched an investigation into nan worker aft it revenge a title based connected video footage, geolocation information and photographs showing him taking portion successful nan demolition of civilian homes.

The instauration described nan move arsenic a “pivotal measurement toward accountability for crimes committed successful Gaza” during astir 15 months of war.

There was nary contiguous remark from Brazilian authorities. Brazilian media reported Saturday that nan investigation was ordered by an on-call national judge successful Brazil’s Federal District. The determination was issued connected Dec. 30 but first reported complete nan weekend.

The Brazil lawsuit raised nan imaginable that rank-and-file Israeli troops could besides look prosecution while abroad.

Israel rejects nan world allegations, saying its forces successful Gaza are acting successful accordance pinch world rule and that immoderate violations are punished wrong its judicial systems. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying nan militant group conceals tunnels and different infrastructure successful residential buildings, necessitating their demolition.

Throughout nan war, Israeli soldiers person posted numerous videos from Gaza that look to show them rummaging done homes and blowing up aliases burning residential buildings. In some, they chant racist slogans aliases boast astir destroying nan Palestinian territory.

The warfare began erstwhile Hamas-led militants stormed into confederate Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, sidesplitting immoderate 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting astir 250. Some 100 hostages are still wrong Gaza, astatine slightest a 3rd believed to beryllium dead.

Israel’s violative has killed complete 45,800 Palestinians successful Gaza, according to section wellness officials. They opportunity women and children dress up complete half nan dormant but do not separate betwixt civilians and militants. Israel says it has killed complete 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Israeli airstrikes connected Sunday killed 5 group successful nan Nuseirat exile campy successful cardinal Gaza and 4 successful nan confederate metropolis of Khan Younis, according to wellness workers. Gaza’s Health Ministry said astatine slightest 88 group had been killed successful nan past 24 hours.

Israel’s subject successful a connection said it struck a Hamas bid halfway successful Khan Younis and an Islamic Jihad militant successful Deir al-Balah.

The warfare has caused widespread demolition successful Gaza and displaced astir 90% of nan organization of 2.3 cardinal people, pinch galore forced to fly aggregate times.

In nan Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed a personnel of nan Palestinian information services, calling him a wanted militant.

Israel’s paramilitary Border Police said Sunday they carried retired an cognition successful Meithaloun colony overnight to apprehension Hassan Rabaiya. They said he was killed successful a shootout while trying to escape. Israeli authorities released helmet-cam footage that showed constabulary blowing up what they called an explosives laboratory successful his home.

The Palestinian information services identified Rabaiya arsenic a first lieutenant successful its Preventive Security force, saying he was killed while “performing his nationalist duty.”

The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority exercises constricted autonomy successful parts of nan West Bank and cooperates pinch Israel connected information matters. But Israel has agelong accused it of inciting unit and turning a unsighted oculus to militants, while Palestinian critics position it arsenic a corrupt and ineffective assemblage that immunodeficiency nan occupation.

The West Bank has seen a surge of unit during nan warfare successful Gaza. Israel captured some Gaza and nan West Bank, arsenic good arsenic eastbound Jerusalem, successful nan 1967 Mideast war, and nan Palestinians want each 3 territories for their early state.

Israel’s defense curate warned Sunday that nan truce that ended much than a twelvemonth of fighting pinch Lebanon’s Hezbollah is astatine risk.

Israel Katz said nan statement requires Hezbollah to retreat northbound of nan Litani River and Lebanese troops to destruct militant infrastructure successful nan buffer area — “something that hasn’t happened yet.”

“If this information is not met, location will beryllium nary agreement, and Israel will beryllium forced to enactment connected its ain to guarantee nan safe return of nan residents of (Israel’s) northbound to their homes,” he said.

Both sides person accused nan different of violating nan agreement. Israel has withdrawn from 2 of nan dozens of towns it holds successful confederate Lebanon. And it has continued striking what it calls Hezbollah targets, accusing nan militant group of attempting to motorboat rockets and move weapons earlier they tin beryllium confiscated and destroyed.

The woody struck connected Nov. 27 required Hezbollah to instantly laic down its arms successful confederate Lebanon. It gave Israel 60 days to retreat its forces and manus complete power to nan Lebanese service and U.N. peacekeepers.

Hezbollah, severely degraded aft Israeli strikes, has threatened to resume fighting if Israel does not afloat retreat by nan 60-day deadline.

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Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese successful Rio de Janeiro contributed.

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