The federal prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into a man from the Brussels municipality of Ukkel that reportedly is a member of an Israel Army snipper unit that is currently on active service in Gaza. The news was first reported by the Francophone daily ‘Le Soir’ and has since been confirmed by the ‘Association Belgo-Palestinienne’, a pro-Palestinian group that lodged a complaint against the man with the public prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor’s office opens investigation into Brussels man serving in Israeli Army sniper unit
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The man reportedly serves in the 'Ghost Unit – Refaim’, an Israeli Army snipper unit that has been on active service in Gaza since October 2023.
The unit is said to be made up of 21 snipers, including 3 Americans, 2 French nationals, 1 German, 1 Italian and the man from Ukkel.
War crimes
A Palestinian journalist was able to interview an American that is one of the unit’s leaders. The American told the journalist that the unit shoots unarmed civilians that pose no threat. These claims are supported by video evidence. People collecting dead bodies for burial are also reportedly considered to be legitimate targets by the unit.
Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP) says that what the American told the Palestinian journalist constitutes war crimes were as defined in Article 136 quater of the Belgian Criminal Code. As a Belgian was involved in the alleged acts, the Belgian courts are competent to rule on the case even though what is alleged was committed abroad.
The federal prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into possible war crimes allegedly committed by the man from Uccle. Association Belgo-Palestinienne is a civil-party plaintiff in the case.