BRUSSELS,Belgium Oct 19/Correspondent/– The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced on Friday that it has initiated an investigation into possible war crimes allegedly committed by a Belgian soldier serving in Israel’s military during the conflict in Gaza.
The investigation centers on a Belgian citizen in his 20s, a dual national of Belgium and Israel, who is reportedly a member of an elite Israeli military unit known as “Refaim.” According to media reports, the soldier, originally from Uccle, Brussels, is part of a sniper unit that has been active in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
The Refaim unit consists of 21 soldiers, including nationals from the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, in addition to the Belgian soldier now under investigation.
The Belgian inquiry, which was officially launched on Wednesday, follows a report by Palestinian journalist and Bellingcat contributor Younis Tirawi. Tirawi accused the Refaim unit of carrying out the “brutal execution of unarmed civilians” during operations in Gaza. His investigation reportedly relies on information from an American soldier within the unit, who provided evidence that civilians were being shot despite posing no threat or being unarmed.
Belgium’s Justice Minister, Paul Van Tigchelt, confirmed that the investigation aims to verify the claims made in the media. “Israel has the right to defend itself, but this does not exempt it from adhering to international humanitarian law,” Van Tigchelt told the Belgian parliament on Thursday.
The Belgian-Palestinian Association (ABP) also filed a formal criminal complaint on Thursday, urging Belgian authorities to pursue the investigation “with diligence.” In a statement, the ABP stressed that ending impunity for war crimes is crucial to preventing further violations. They also called for Belgium to work alongside international justice bodies.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
