Israeli Minister Threatens HRF Chair with Death Over Legal Effort Against Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War Crimes
Brussels (Quds News Network)- Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, publicly threatened the founder of a pro-Palestine advocacy group with death on Monday over the organization’s efforts to track and file criminal complaints against Israeli soldiers involved in war crimes during the Gaza assault.
The Israeli minister commented on X to Dyab Abou Jahjah: “Hello to our human rights activist. Watch your pager,” referring to Israel’s September attack which targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon using exploding pagers.
Hello to our human rights activist. Watch your pager. pic.twitter.com/nbUx2u1LLY
— עמיחי שיקלי – Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) January 6, 2025
The Israeli government minister Amichai Chikli openly threatened me. This is a blatant act of terrorism and incitement. I will be filing a lawsuit against him.
What a hallucinating sense of impunity. pic.twitter.com/zd1TwKoHHm— Dyab Abou Jahjah (@Aboujahjah) January 6, 2025
Abou Jahjah is the chairman of Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based pro-Palestine group which leads a legal push against Israeli soldiers’ war crimes in Gaza.
HRF’s latest legal action, filed in Brazil, targeted a former Israeli soldier accused of involvement in the Israeli military’s systematic demolition of civilian homes in Gaza. The HRF filed a criminal complaint last week against the soldier, who was in Brazil on vacation. On Saturday, a Brazilian court instructed police to investigate the soldier for war crimes.
However, Israel reportedly helped the soldier to flee the country. In a statement, the HRF accused Israel of orchestrating his departure to obstruct justice, adding that “there are also indications that evidence is being destroyed”. Israel’s Foreign Ministry also announced that it had helped the former soldier in leaving Brazil on a commercial flight, after what it described as “anti-Israel elements” pushed for an investigation last week.
This case represents the first time a member of the ICC has independently enforced its founding Rome Statute provisions without depending on the court itself to act.
“This is a historic moment,” said Abou Jahjah. “It sets a powerful precedent for nations to take bold action in holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable.”
Since then, the group has been targeted by a smear campaign orchestrated by Israeli media and officials.
On Monday, The Jerusalem Post published a smear piece targeting Abou Jahjah in a “desperate attempt to distract from the truth,” accusing him of being a former member of Hezbollah.
In response, he stated, “I am honored by your accusation of me being Hezbollah, I respect them for fighting against your invasion hordes in Lebanon, but I am simply not of that ideology. Accusing me of being part of their resistance is an honor I do not claim.”
To start, you will hear from my lawyer @AmichaiChikli. As for the rest, everything about my past and present is on the record. However, I am honored by your accusation of me being Hezbollah, I respect them for fighting against your invasion hordes in Lebanon, but I am simply not… pic.twitter.com/M66AB3mjjl
— Dyab Abou Jahjah (@Aboujahjah) January 6, 2025
Israeli media and officials are showing clear unease over @HindRFoundation global legal efforts to hold the @IDF accountable for war crimes.
The latest smear piece by @Jerusalem_Post against @Aboujahjah is packed with demonstrable lies and wild accusations—a desperate attempt to…
— Youssef Kobo (@Youssef_Kobo) January 6, 2025
Moreover, the HRF confirmed on Monday that Israel has targeted its lawyer in Brazil after they filed the complaint against the soldier.
“We strongly condemns the vile and cowardly attacks targeting our lawyer in Brazil, Ms. Maira Pinheiro. Following her involvement in the legal case against the soldier who escaped after the court issued a probe order against him, Ms. Pinheiro has faced serious threats, including threats to her life, doxxing, sexist slurs, and even threats directed toward her daughter,” the Belgium-based group said on X on Sunday.
“These despicable acts aim to intimidate and silence her but will not succeed.”
The group added, “Ms. Pinheiro was simply carrying out her professional duty as part of the legal process. The Hind Rajab Foundation collaborates with hundreds of committed lawyers worldwide who share a steadfast dedication to justice and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will not be intimidated or deterred by such cowardice; these attacks only deepen our resolve.”
In October 2024, the HRF filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza.
It said the complaint is “supported by over 8,000 pieces of verifiable evidence – including videos, audio recordings, forensic reports, and social media documentation – demonstrates the soldiers’ direct involvement in these atrocities.”
It noted that soldiers were named and were all “located in Gaza during the genocidal assault, and the evidence reveals their participation in violations of international law.”
It added that it provided evidence that they had taken part in the “destruction of civilian infrastructure … Illegal occupation and looting … Participation in the Gaza blockade … Targeting civilians … Use of inhumane warfare tactics,” which are violations under international law.
The soldiers named include “high-ranking officers and commanders responsible for planning and executing military operations in Gaza,” individuals with dual citizenship, “including 12 from France, 12 from the United States, 4 from Canada, 3 from the United Kingdom, and 2 from the Netherlands,” and soldiers “who have openly boasted about their war crimes on social media,” it explained.
In December, the Israeli military reportedly warned dozens of soldiers against traveling abroad, after some 30 soldiers who served in Gaza genocide had war crimes complaints filed against them. Soldiers have been identified from videos and images they posted online that were taken during their service in Gaza.
