An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier who survived Hamas’s attack at the Nova music festival on October 7 last year cut his vacation short in Brazil on Sunday morning, following an order from the country’s Federal Court for police to open a war crimes investigation on him, according to Brazilian media.
The case stems from allegations that he participated in the destruction of a residential building in Gaza in November 2024 during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The complaint was filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgium-based pro-Palestinian organization.
Neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Israeli Embassy in Brazil commented specifically on the investigation into the soldier.
The unnamed soldier was a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova festival last year that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. The soldier reportedly survived the attack by running for kilometers, narrowly avoiding Hamas gunfire multiple times until he reached safety.
Brazilian media reports indicate the court’s investigation began after the Hind Rajab Foundation flagged the reservist’s presence in the country. The organization uses social media posts by Israeli soldiers to identify individuals for potential prosecution abroad.
After learning about the court order, the soldier’s family requested assistance from Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar instructed the Israeli Embassy in Brazil to ensure the reservist’s safe departure.
The soldier reportedly crossed a border on Sunday morning and is now back in Israel, according to reports.
