BRUSSELS: Belgian authorities said on Friday that they have initiated an investigation into possible war crimes committed by a Belgian-Israeli soldier fighting for Israel in Gaza.
The federal prosecutor’s office confirmed that the probe targets a Belgian member of an elite Israeli military unit, which includes several dual passport holders.
The suspect, a man in his 20s from Uccle, a wealthy suburb of Brussels, has not been publicly identified. The investigation, officially opened on Wednesday, follows accusations made by Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi. He alleged on social media that an Israeli sniper unit known as “Refaim” (or “Ghosts” in Hebrew) has been involved in the “brutal executions of unarmed civilians.”
Belgium’s Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt stated that the investigation aims to “verify the information published in the press.” He emphasized that while Israel has the right to self-defense, it is still obligated to adhere to international humanitarian law.
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The federal prosecutor’s office will work alongside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where the chief prosecutor has sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC has also pursued warrants against top Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, all of whom have since been killed.
Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza was launched following the October 7, 2023 attack by the militant group, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, predominantly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. In response, Israel’s operations in Gaza have led to the deaths of 42,438 people, mostly civilians, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which the UN deems reliable.
