Human rights lawyers have filed a lawsuit against an Israeli soldier of German origin over suspected involvement in the targeted killing of unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and three Palestinian human rights organizations say they filed a criminal complaint with Germany’s federal prosecutor against a sniper in the so-called “Ghost Unit” of the 202nd Paratroopers Battalion.
ECCHR says the 25-year-old soldier was born and raised in Munich and had a registered residence in Germany until recently, but could not confirm that the man has dual citizenship.
In a 130-page complaint, ECCHR says it has submitted evidence, including investigative research and audiovisual recordings, alleging that the soldier belonged to the unit, alleging that its members deliberately killed civilians in Gaza.
The Israeli military and foreign ministry and Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office do not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The case is filed under German laws that allow prosecutors to pursue international crimes if the accused persons were born in Germany or German nationals, ECCHR says.
“There must be no double standards – even if the suspects are members of the Israeli armed forces,” ECCHR’s lawyer Alexander Schwarz says in a statement.
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