Israel's elite 'Ghost' sniper unit faces war crimes allegations in Gaza probe
- In Reports
- 11:46 AM, Oct 19, 2024
- Myind Staff
A Belgian court has started an investigation into accusations of war crimes by a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office is looking into the case of a dual Belgian-Israeli national, a young man in his early twenties, who serves in the IDF. He was born and raised in a suburb of Brussels and is part of the elite multidimensional "Ghost" (Refaim) sniper unit, according to a report.
The soldier is accused of targeting unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, which is the main focus of the investigation. According to the accusations, non-combatants were intentionally shot in violation of international law. The investigation was initiated by a complaint filed by the Belgian-Palestinian Association (ABP). According to Belgian law, its residents may be prosecuted for crimes they have committed overseas.
On Friday, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed the investigation, saying it aims to ascertain whether the sniper committed the suspected war crimes. This issue stems from a report by Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi, who claimed that the Refaim sniper team intentionally targeted individuals without weapons. A senior American officer in the squad confirmed his findings, Tirawi said. The officer allegedly provided documentation and described incidents in which the unit opened fire on people, even in situations where IDF personnel were out of any threats.
According to reports, the accused soldier has been serving in Gaza since October 2023 as a member of the Refaim Unit. There are 21 soldiers from various nationalities in this elite Israeli military unit. The unit includes the Belgian under investigation as well as three Americans, two French nationals, a German, and an Italian.
A significant portion of the evidence against the Belgian sniper is based on Tirawi's interviews. In his unsettling testimony, the senior American officer compared Gaza to the ancient city of Sodom, which was destroyed because of its sins, the journalist said. The officer allegedly referred to Gaza’s residents as "Amalekites," an Old Testament name frequently used historically to refer to Israelite adversaries.
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