Brussels Group Files War Crimes Complaint in Vietnam

Brussels Group Files War Crimes Complaint in Vietnam

A Brussels-based advocacy group has filed a criminal complaint with Vietnamese authorities against Israeli reservist Matan Jerafi, accusing him of war crimes, genocide and incitement to genocide during Israel’s wars in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.

The Hind Rajab Foundation submitted the complaint on Saturday, citing documented evidence of Jerafi’s involvement in the destruction of civilian infrastructure and public statements calling for the displacement of Palestinians.

The Filing of the Criminal Complaint

The Hind Rajab Foundation announced the action in a statement released on Saturday. The complaint targets Matan Jerafi for his alleged role in unlawful destruction during military operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

HRF urged Vietnamese officials to detain Jerafi and open an investigation, noting that Vietnam is a signatory to the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention.

Profile of the Accused Reservist

Jerafi serves as CEO of the Israeli organization Im Tirtzu. He served with the 920th Infantry Battalion of the 769th Brigade and documented his deployment to Gaza and southern Lebanon along with his direct involvement in the unlawful destruction of civilian property.

Matan Jerafi leads Im Tirtzu, an Israeli organization registered as a nonprofit in 2007 by Ronen Shoval and described by its founders as an extra-parliamentary movement advancing Zionist values. The group has conducted high-profile campaigns that include compiling lists of artists linked to left-wing causes and organizing demonstrations outside the homes of former officials, activities that have drawn domestic controversy over their methods and targets.

His dual role as both a reservist documenting operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon and a public advocate for displacement policies illustrates the overlap between military service and political activism that the foundation seeks to highlight. The complaint treats these spheres as interconnected rather than separate, arguing that statements made in his organizational capacity reinforce the intent behind battlefield conduct.

The foundation’s use of publicly available posts and statements allows scrutiny of how organizational leadership and military participation may reinforce each other. This framing distinguishes the case from complaints focused solely on rank-and-file soldiers and raises questions about the accountability of individuals who combine operational involvement with sustained public advocacy.

Evidence of Destruction in Gaza

The complaint details Jerafi’s participation in the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza and in the Shujaiya and Rimal neighborhoods of Gaza City between December 2023 and January 2024.

Actions in Southern Lebanon

Jerafi was transferred to southern Lebanon between October and November 2024, where he continued to destroy civilian infrastructure. The fighting there caused thousands of casualties and widespread destruction, while Israel continues to occupy areas of southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement’s provision for its withdrawal.

Allegations of Genocide and War Crimes

HRF said that Jerafi’s acts constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 85(3)(a) of Additional Protocol I and Articles 8(2)(a)(iv), 8(2)(b)(ii) and 8(2)(b)(v) of the Rome Statute, as well as acts of genocide under Article II(3) of the Genocide Convention and Article 6(c) of the Rome Statute.

The Hind Rajab Foundation’s approach relies heavily on material that Israeli soldiers themselves post on social media from the field, turning personal documentation into evidence for proceedings abroad. This method has already produced complaints in Spain against a former sergeant from the 101st Paratrooper Battalion and in the United States against another from a different unit, illustrating a deliberate strategy to test universal jurisdiction wherever suspects travel.

Director-General Dyab Abu Jahjah has noted that many states possess the necessary laws yet governments frequently hesitate to advance cases involving Israeli combatants. The current filing in Vietnam therefore tests whether that reluctance can be overcome when an individual is physically present and the evidence includes both physical destruction and explicit public statements advocating displacement and denial of aid.

By citing specific provisions of the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute alongside the Geneva Conventions, the foundation frames the reservist’s actions as part of a broader pattern rather than isolated incidents. The emphasis on incitement through repeated public messaging distinguishes this complaint from earlier ones and signals an intent to address not only battlefield conduct but also the ideological mobilization that accompanied it.

Public Incitement to Genocide

The foundation accused Jerafi of direct and public incitement to genocide, citing statements in which he advocated the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, justified attacks on civilians, opposed the entry of humanitarian aid and promoted material advocating for a new Nakba.

HRF quoted Jerafi as saying on Feb. 1, 2024: “Gaza's civilians are part of Hamas. We must not have mercy on them.” It also quoted him as saying on July 9, 2025: “there shouldn't be an agreement without emigration.”

Statements from HRF Leadership

HRF Director-General Dyab Abu Jahjah said: “Matan Jerafi’s culpability extends far beyond his direct participation in war crimes and acts of genocide on the ground. He has weaponized his public platform to actively advocate for the continuation and escalation of this genocidal campaign.”

Natacha Bracq, head of Litigation at HRF, said: “it is unacceptable that Matan Jerafi is vacationing among the Vietnamese people after having actively participated in and publicly incited the genocide of Palestinians.” She added: “Vietnam must uphold its international duties by detaining Mr. Jerafi and initiating a thorough investigation.”

Vietnam's Legal Obligations

HRF argued that Vietnam has a duty to investigate and prosecute individuals present on its territory who are suspected of committing grave international crimes, regardless of where those crimes occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator.

Vietnam’s status as a party to both the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention creates a clear obligation to investigate grave breaches when a suspect is on its territory, irrespective of the location of the alleged crimes. The Hind Rajab Foundation has highlighted this duty in its public statements, noting that the presence of the individual in question removes any practical barrier to initiating proceedings.

The foundation’s litigation head has pointed out that the suspect is currently vacationing among Vietnamese citizens, underscoring the immediacy of the request for detention and investigation. This argument draws on established principles of universal jurisdiction that several other states have already been asked to apply in similar complaints filed by the same organization in 2025 and 2026.

Whether Vietnamese authorities will move forward remains uncertain, given the documented reluctance of many governments to pursue such cases against Israeli personnel. The foundation’s prior experience in Peru, where a preliminary investigation was opened in May 2026, offers one precedent, yet each jurisdiction presents distinct political and procedural hurdles that could determine the outcome here.

Broader Context of the Gaza Conflict

Israel launched its genocide in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023 that killed over 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 174,000, most of them women and children, while about 90% of the territory's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Israel has faced accusations of war crimes and genocide over its deadly military campaign before the International Court of Justice.

The Hind Rajab Foundation was established in early 2025 with the explicit goal of pursuing accountability through foreign courts using evidence generated by soldiers’ own online activity. Its sequence of complaints across multiple continents reflects a recognition that domestic avenues inside Israel have produced limited results and that sustained international pressure requires coordinated legal action in third countries.

Accusations of war crimes and genocide have already reached the International Court of Justice, yet the foundation’s work focuses on individual criminal responsibility rather than state-level disputes. By filing in jurisdictions where suspects may travel for leisure or business, the group seeks to close the practical gap between international condemnation and enforceable legal consequences.

The pattern of complaints filed since September 2025 demonstrates an incremental strategy aimed at normalizing the application of universal jurisdiction to these events. Each new filing, including the one in Vietnam, adds to a growing body of documented cases that could influence future decisions by prosecutors and courts weighing similar evidence.

The Legacy of Hind Rajab

The foundation is named after Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl who was killed along with six relatives when an Israeli attack targeted their vehicle southwest of Gaza City on Jan. 29, 2024. HRF is among rights groups seeking to pursue Israeli military personnel and officials through legal proceedings in different countries over war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians.

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency, Hind Rajab Foundation, Middle East Eye.