Israel commander cancels Italy trip after arrest application over war crimes

Legal action by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has forced an alleged Israel war criminal to cancel a planned trip to Italy.

Former Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) commander Ofer Winter has abandoned his visit to Europe after the HRF applied for an arrest warrant for him over his alleged involvement in 2014 atrocities and his advocacy for Israel’s current and continuing genocide in Gaza.

Israel ‘Black Friday’ 2014

HRF’s application, accompanied by a “detailed investigative report”, details Winter’s in the 2014 ‘Black Friday’ massacre in Rafah on 1 August 2014. HRF says that:

Following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Winter ordered the activation of the Hannibal Directive, triggering a large-scale and indiscriminate assault on a densely populated civilian area…

…Thousands of artillery shells were fired across urban areas within hours;

Airstrikes, drones, and tank fire targeted roads and civilian movement;

Civilians were indiscriminately—and in some cases deliberately—targeted, leading to up to 200 civilian deaths in three days;

Ambulances and medical teams were struck, preventing the evacuation of the wounded.

Ofer Winter, who was commander of the Givati Brigade and in charge of the Rafah area at the time of the attack, is specifically alleged to be responsible for the crimes committed during the attack, particularly:

The attack on Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital on 1 August 2014;

The attack on al-Birr wa’l-Taqwa Mosque and the ambulances retrieving the wounded therefrom on 1 August 2014;

The attack on UNRWA Boys’ Prep School ‘A’ on 3 August 2014.

Genocide incitement

HRF also lists examples of Winter’s statements inciting genocide, including:

The end game needs to be no Palestinians in Gaza.

Victory will occur when there are no more Arabs in Gaza.

But the law in the State of Israel must draw its authority from the values of the Jewish people, not from the inventions and legal sophistry of the international court. The source of our values is not The Hague. (…) Likewise: ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise early and kill him first.’ And yes, it is necessary to devastate Gaza because destroying houses is essential for protecting our soldiers.

HRF’s application states that in this context, Winter’s planned visit to Italy was:

part of a broader effort to legitimize and disseminate narratives that incite the commission of genocide.

The group says that forcing him to cancel his propaganda visit is a “victory” but that arrest and prosecution remains its goal:

This is a concrete win for HRF and our allies in Italy. When suspected war criminals are forced to alter their movements that is a form of accountability. Full accountability, however, must lead to arrest and prosecution. We will continue pursuing that objective.

Like his genocide-state colleagues, Winter is said to have tried threats to HRF’s top official as a means of preventing action against him. HRF general director Dyab Abou Jahjah said:

When we filed the complaint in Italy against Mr. Winter, his immediate response was to issue threats directed at my address. His subsequent decision to cancel his visit to Italy underscores the tangible impact and seriousness of this legal action. He now faces an additional case in Belgium for those threats. The era of impunity is coming to an end.

Israeli agents have previously threatened both Abou Jahjah and his family. HRF’s campaign of legal action against Israeli war criminals wherever they go continues.

Featured image via the Canary