Peruvian judicial authorities have taken a major step by referring a case of alleged genocide committed by an Israeli soldier in Gaza to the Human Rights Prosecutor. The soldier, who holds dual citizenship, is accused of participating in the destruction of civilian neighbourhoods during the Israeli assault on Gaza between 2023 and 2024.

The Hind Rajab Human Rights Organization, named after a young Palestinian girl killed during the conflict, submitted detailed evidence implicating the soldier, who served in the Israeli combat engineering corps, in carrying out a scorched-earth policy that rendered entire areas of Gaza uninhabitable.

This unprecedented move underlines the growing use of universal jurisdiction to hold perpetrators accountable beyond their own borders. Peruvian lawyer Julio César Arbizu Gonzales confirmed the Public Prosecutor is now actively investigating the case, signalling a real pursuit of justice rather than a symbolic gesture.

The organisation also announced arrest warrant requests for 1,000 Israeli soldiers holding dual nationality across eight countries, urging governments to act decisively against suspected war criminals entering their territories.

Diab Abu Jahjah, head of the organisation, described this development as a crucial step in ending impunity for crimes committed against Palestinians, emphasising that justice is a duty, not a choice.