About 30 Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers and officers involved in operations in the Gaza Strip have been advised to avoid foreign travel for fear of being arrested on war crimes charges. This information was reported in a report by the Israeli media outlet Wynet on Wednesday.
According to the report, in eight cases, soldiers were asked to return to their country immediately after going abroad. Such incidents occurred during trips to Cyprus, Slovenia and the Netherlands.
The IDF has not directly banned military travel abroad. However, troops serving in Gaza are subject to risk assessments prior to travel. Soldiers are advised to consult the Ministry of External Affairs about the risks before travelling.
High-ranking Israeli officials are concerned about possible action by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
IDF sources said videos and pictures posted on social media are helping to identify soldiers. Soldiers have been advised not to release pictures that could reveal their location.
According to the reports of the American media Washington Post and New York Times, the soldiers posted photos and videos taken during the operation in Gaza. These images show scenes of destruction of buildings, looting of private property and taking pictures of victims standing next to dead bodies.
The IDF said it used authorized means to destroy Hamas infrastructure and strike military targets. However, incidents that go beyond IDF policy will be investigated.
The United States has expressed concern over Israel's actions in building military bases in Gaza. External Affairs Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Vedanta Patel said this action may be inconsistent with US policy.
Israel has formed an inter-ministerial team comprising the International Law Department and intelligence agencies Shin Bet and Mossad to deal with the ICC case. The team is working on a risk assessment of troops and possible legal action.
Source: The Times of Israel
