Criminal Complaint Filed in Chile Against Israeli Soldier for War Crimes in Gaza

A legal institution in Chile has filed a criminal complaint in the Santiago court against an Israeli-Ukrainian soldier named Rom Koftun. He is accused of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

This complaint, as stated by the institution, is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction and was filed due to Koftun’s presence in Chile. It calls for the initiation of formal investigations and legal proceedings against him.

The complaint asserts that Koftun served as a sniper in the 424th Battalion ‘Shaked’ of the Israeli Defense Forces and participated in the siege and destruction of the Shifa Medical Complex. This involvement has led to the devastation of infrastructure and the deaths of civilians, including patients and healthcare personnel.The institution emphasizes that Chilean courts are legally obligated to address this case. It urges the assignment of the matter to the human rights crimes unit the determination of the accused’s residence his interrogation and the implementation of precautionary measures to prevent his departure from Chile.

This action is part of the legal efforts by the institution to hold Israeli military personnel and officials accountable for war crimes committed against civilians.