Hind Rajab Foundation seeks prosecution of ‘Israeli’ soldier attending World Cup

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a formal request with the United States Department of Justice urging the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of Jake Burkons, a dual ‘Israeli’-American national.

The organization accuses Burkons of involvement in war crimes and acts of genocide during military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Burkons, originally from Texas, voluntarily enlisted in the ‘Israeli’ military following the events of October 7, 2023.

He served in Company D of the 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion, part of the 7th Armoured Brigade.

According to HRF’s investigation, his unit conducted extensive controlled demolitions of civilian infrastructure, including homes, mosques, farms, and other structures in areas such as Khan Younis.

Evidence presented by the foundation includes documentation linking Burkons directly to at least one incident of unlawful destruction.

Reports describe him holding a detonation cable inside a destroyed civilian building alongside fellow soldiers, indicating active participation in operations that HRF says were not justified by military necessity.

The allegations against Burkons and his battalion encompass potential war crimes under international law, such as extensive destruction of property not justified by military requirements, attacks directed against civilian objects, and actions contributing to rendering large areas of Gaza uninhabitable.

HRF maintains that these acts form part of a broader pattern observed in ‘Israeli’ military operations.

This latest filing follows a similar criminal complaint submitted by HRF to Sri Lankan authorities in April 2026, when Burkons was vacationing in the country.

Burkons is currently in the United States attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. HRF has called on US authorities to prevent his departure from the country and to ensure a thorough investigation while he remains within US jurisdiction.