Pro-Palestinian Group Targets Israeli Athlete in France with War Crime Allegations

A Belgian-based pro-Palestinian organization, Hind Rajab Foundation, has filed a complaint in France against an Israeli reservist officer and international roundnet player, Elitzur Gitler. The foundation, which targets Israeli soldiers abroad, alleges Gitler is responsible for war crimes during his service in Gaza with the 749th Combat Engineering Battalion. The complaint was prompted by information from the French Coordination for Academic, Cultural, and Sports Boycott of Israel (FRACBI).

A French parliament member from the radical left party "La France Insoumise" (LFI), Thomas Portes, has contacted French prosecutors regarding Gitler, who is in France to compete in the Roundnet World Championship. Portes is demanding an investigation into Gitler's alleged personal responsibility for actions attributed to his former unit in Gaza, including operations at Rantisi Children's Hospital, destruction in Khan Younis, and demolition of buildings and a mosque.

The Hind Rajab Foundation, founded by Lebanese-Belgian activist Diab Abou Jahjah, claims to have filed over 100 criminal complaints in approximately 30 countries since 2024. They monitor soldiers' social media to locate them when traveling internationally and then submit complaints to local authorities for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Gitler, who manages the roundnet community in Ra'anana and is part of the Israeli national team, is competing in the world championship near Paris from September 2nd to 6th. The complaint is unusual as Gitler was identified through his participation in an international sports event, rather than a private vacation.

French law reportedly imposes significant limitations on universal jurisdiction for international offenses, requiring a sufficient connection to France in certain cases. Therefore, the filing of the complaint does not guarantee that French authorities will pursue the case against Gitler.