Hind Rajab Foundation files Vietnam complaint against ‘Israeli’ reservist

• The Hind Rajab Foundation says it has filed a criminal complaint in Vietnam against ‘Israeli’ reservist Hezi Gilboa over alleged destruction of civilian property in Gaza.
• The group alleges Gilboa documented demolitions while serving with an engineering battalion during the initial ground offensive in Gaza.

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said it has filed a criminal complaint with Vietnamese authorities against ‘Israeli’ reservist Hezi Gilboa, alleging his involvement in the destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Brussels-based organization, Gilboa is currently in Vietnam. HRF said he served with the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion of the 188th Armored Brigade during the initial ground offensive in Gaza after October 7, 2023, operating a D9 armored bulldozer.

The organization said its investigation relied in part on photographs and videos Gilboa allegedly posted on social media documenting demolitions and the destruction of residential areas in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah.

HRF said Gilboa posted a video on November 19, 2023, describing his unit’s demolition operations.

According to the organization, he said troops searched for what they considered suspicious objects, including tunnels and military equipment, before demolishing structures when they found no such material.

HRF said it verified Gilboa’s alleged involvement in the destruction of at least two sites: the Abbas Police Station in Gaza City’s southern Rimal neighborhood between November 14 and 21, 2023, and Palestine Square in Shuja’iyya on December 18, 2023.

The foundation alleges that the documented conduct could constitute war crimes involving attacks against civilian objects and unlawful or extensive destruction of property.

The complaint comes as HRF continues pursuing legal cases in several countries against ‘Israeli’ military personnel over alleged crimes committed in Gaza.

The organization has filed similar complaints in recent months, including cases in Italy, the Netherlands, France and other jurisdictions.

HRF said the allegations against Gilboa may also amount to crimes against humanity and genocide. Those are allegations made by the organization and have not been established by a Vietnamese court.

Vietnamese authorities have not publicly announced whether they will open an investigation or take action against Gilboa.