Belgian-Pro-Palestinian Group Files War Crimes Complaint Against Israeli Soldier in Netherlands
The Belgian pro-Palestinian organization Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) filed a criminal complaint on Wednesday in the Netherlands against an Israeli soldier identified as A.H., who serves in the 432nd Battalion of the Givati Brigade. The complaint accuses him of alleged involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the Gaza Strip. HRF claims that the battalion participated in forcibly transferring civilians and burning an entire school complex in Beit Lahiya in October 2024, as part of a military strategy called the "Champions' Plan" or "Generals' Plan" aimed at clearing northern Gaza.
According to HRF, the strategy involved systematic destruction of residential neighborhoods, schools, and civilian shelters to prevent Palestinians from returning. The complaint details that the battalion forcibly evacuated hundreds of families from the school area, separated men from women and children, detained men who were later seen blindfolded and handcuffed, and attacked fleeing civilians with drones and artillery. After the evacuation, soldiers allegedly set fire to the school buildings used as shelters, preventing displaced residents from returning.
This is not the first complaint HRF has filed in the Netherlands; similar complaints were made in 2025 against other Israeli individuals, including a retired Air Force officer. HRF has submitted over 90 criminal complaints and legal petitions in more than 30 countries since 2024, most of which have been dismissed without formal action. HRF's litigation director, Natasha Barak, stated that the evidence collected raises serious suspicion of war crimes and genocide, emphasizing the illegality of forcibly transferring civilians and destroying shelters.
HRF CEO Diab Abu Jahjah, a Lebanese Shiite with ties to Hezbollah, accused the soldier's unit of deliberately destroying Palestinian cultural and educational infrastructure to erase the future of a generation. Abu Jahjah founded the March 30 movement and the Hind Rajab Foundation and has faced bans from entering the UK and restrictions on flights over the US. The complaint highlights ongoing international legal efforts by pro-Palestinian groups to hold Israeli soldiers accountable for actions during the Gaza conflict.