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Israeli Reservist Yuval Vagdani Flees to Argentina Amid Brazilian War Crimes Probe Over Gaza Actions

Jan 6, 2025, 09:24 AM

An Israeli reservist, Yuval Vagdani, who was vacationing in Brazil, fled the country for Argentina after a Brazilian court ordered an investigation into alleged war crimes he committed in Gaza. The investigation was initiated following a complaint by the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation, named after a 6-year-old Palestinian girl allegedly killed by the IDF. The foundation accused Vagdani, a survivor of the October 7, 2023, Nova Festival massacre, of participating in the destruction of civilian homes in Gaza. The foundation provided evidence, including videos and photos, suggesting Vagdani's involvement in criminal actions during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has lasted over 15 months and resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths. Vagdani was alerted by the Israeli embassy and left Brazil. The Israeli government has defended its military operations in Gaza as compliant with international law and criticized the Hind Rajab Foundation for manipulating legal systems to create an anti-Israel narrative. The case has sparked a diplomatic row, with an Israeli parliamentarian threatening Brazil for pursuing the soldier, while former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro criticized the Brazilian government's actions. The Hind Rajab Foundation has also filed similar complaints in other countries, aiming to hold Israeli soldiers accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.