Israeli soldier secretly evacuated from Sri Lanka amid war crimes allegations in Gaza

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel evacuated one of its soldiers in Sri Lanka moments before he was to be summoned in an investigation about alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

The incident unfolded Wednesday after the soldier was identified by the pro-Palestinian Hind Rajab Foundation, Channel 12 reported.

The foundation matched images the soldier shared on social media with pictures from his operational service in Gaza, noting he boasted about killing a Palestinian civilian, said the Israeli broadcaster.

The group promptly notified Sri Lankan authorities and urged them to arrest the soldier, whose identity remains undisclosed.

Israeli authorities instructed the soldier to immediately leave Sri Lanka to avoid detention. Details about how he left the country remain unclear, and Sri Lankan officials have not commented.

The incident follows the International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.

There are growing concerns in Israel about potential secret arrest warrants targeting other military personnel, as rights groups worldwide gather evidence to push for prosecutions.

Channel 12 emphasized that while Israel managed to prevent the arrest but the repercussions highlight an increasing willingness for nations to pursue legal action against Israeli soldiers accused of violations in Gaza.

Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,200 victims, mostly women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023.​​​​​​​

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio