Israeli soldier flees Brazil over risk of arrest abroad for alleged war crimes in Gaza
Israel helped a former soldier flee Brazil as IDF members face a growing risk of arrest abroad over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
It's not just Israel's leaders who may need to be wary of traveling abroad. Now soldiers who have served in Gaza appear to be facing a growing risk of arrest themselves over allegations of war crimes in Israel's assault on the besieged Palestinian enclave.
In a case that has sparked outcry in Israel and praise elsewhere, one soldier vacationing in Brazil fled the South American country earlier this month after a judge ordered federal police to pursue an investigation in response to a legal filing accusing the soldier of war crimes in Gaza.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement shared with NBC News on Monday that it had helped the former soldier leave Brazil on a commercial flight after what it described as “anti-Israel elements” requested an investigation last week.
"The Consular Section of the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Brazil contacted the Israeli and his family, and accompanied him throughout the event until his swift and safe departure from Brazil," it said.
The foreign ministry further warned Israelis against posting on social media about their military service, saying "anti-Israeli elements may exploit these posts to initiate futile legal proceedings against them."
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