Israeli Military Tightens Media Rules To Protect Soldiers To Avoid Growing Legal Risks Abroad Following Gaza Service

The Israeli military has implemented new restrictions on media coverage of soldiers serving on active duty, in response to increasing concerns about the potential legal repercussions for reservists traveling abroad due to allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

Under the updated guidelines, media outlets will be prohibited from displaying the full names or faces of soldiers ranked colonel and below during interviews. This is in line with existing protocols for pilots and special forces members, as explained by Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson.

The new rules also stipulate that interviewees must not be linked to specific combat events in which they participated. Shoshani emphasized that the purpose of these measures is to safeguard soldiers and protect them from legal action, particularly from anti-Israel activists globally.

He further noted that soldiers have long been prohibited from sharing images or videos from war zones on social media, though enforcement has been challenging due to the size of the army. Additionally, guidelines for soldiers traveling abroad have been in place for some time.

Shoshani stated that activist organizations, like the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation, have been using online content from soldiers in Gaza to connect them with other images or videos shared during personal travels, which has contributed to increased scrutiny.

The decision to implement these tighter restrictions followed an incident in Brazil, where an Israeli reservist, accused of committing war crimes while serving in Gaza, fled the country after a judge ordered a federal police investigation following allegations from a pro-Palestinian group.

What Happened in Brazil? 

Israeli soldiers who served in Gaza now face an increasing risk of arrest abroad over allegations of war crimes related to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian enclave. In a case that has sparked both criticism and praise, an Israeli soldier on vacation in Brazil fled the country after a judge ordered an investigation into accusations that he had committed war crimes while serving in Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed in a statement that it had assisted the former soldier in leaving Brazil on a commercial flight. The ministry described the situation as a result of “anti-Israel elements” initiating the investigation. The Israeli Consular Section and the Israeli Embassy in Brazil reportedly contacted the soldier and his family, providing assistance until his safe departure.

The ministry also issued a warning to Israelis, advising them against sharing details of their military service on social media, as these posts could be exploited by anti-Israeli groups to initiate legal proceedings.

The case was brought by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based organization focused on documenting the actions of Israeli soldiers in Gaza and seeking justice for alleged war crimes. HRF accused the soldier of participating in the “massive demolitions of civilian homes in Gaza during a systematic campaign of destruction.”

This incident marks the latest in a series of legal actions pursued by HRF, which has tracked the activities of numerous Israeli military soldiers who served in Gaza.

Maira Pinheiro, the lawyer representing HRF, noted that the Israeli government intervened before the federal police could act, assisting the soldier in evading Brazilian authorities. She emphasized that as a signatory to the Rome Statute, Brazil is obligated to investigate and prosecute crimes like war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The HRF, a pro-Palestinian NGO, aims to “break the cycle of Israeli impunity” and honor the memory of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza.

In response to the case, Israel’s Foreign Ministry highlighted the role of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who acted quickly to ensure the safety of the soldier following the attempt to investigate him.

Meanwhile, some human rights advocates have applauded the Brazilian case, with Kenneth Roth, the former executive director of Human Rights Watch, noting that the case is a reminder that war crimes fall under universal jurisdiction and can be prosecuted by any national court, regardless of a direct connection to the conflict in Gaza.