Australian in Israeli Defence Force committed war crimes, report alleges

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 3:17pm

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 3:17pm

In short:

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is considering a brief of evidence from the Australian Centre for International Justice, detailing alleged war crimes in Gaza by an Australian citizen who was in the Israeli Defence Force.

The centre's report details three charges, including war crimes and a crime against humanity, all to do with the destruction of property.

What's next?

The brief was delivered to the AFP in May, but there is no indication when police will say if they will formally investigate or not.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is considering a brief of evidence detailing alleged war crimes against an Australian citizen working with the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza.

The brief was provided by the Australian International Justice Centre, which has accused the man of three offences, saying they breach Australian law.

The centre's founder and principal lawyer, Rawan Arraf, said all of the allegations related to a single person.

"We have provided a detailed criminal complaint to the Australian Federal Police requesting investigation of an Australian citizen who was present and fighting with the Israeli military in Gaza in the period of 2023 and 2024," Ms Arraf said.

"We looked at this person and the unit and his company … and the brigade that he was involved in, and particularly at the destruction of a building, a residential building that was home to several Palestinian families from Gaza who unfortunately have no home anymore.

"We're alleging three criminal offences, including two war crimes offences relating to the destruction and appropriation of property and attacking civilian objects.

"And we're also alleging the crime against humanity of an other inhumane act related to widespread and systematic property destruction as well."

It is not a crime for an Australian to serve in an overseas military force, but any alleged war crime is dealt with by Commonwealth authorities.

Report 'hundreds of pages' long

The AFP has said it was aware of allegations of war crimes against Australian citizens overseas.

Ms Arraf said an investigation was warranted into the current allegations.

"It's a 65-page complaint together with 43 annexures numbering hundreds of pages," Ms Arraf said.

"But some of those annexures include video evidence, social media posts, and witness testimony from persons within that individual's military unit as well."

She said the centre is also looking into allegations against around 15 others in similar circumstances.

The brief was delivered to the AFP in May, but there is no indication when police will say whether they will formally investigate or not.