Australian Federal Police Assess Alleged Gaza War Crimes Involving Australian Citizen
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is assessing allegations of alleged war crimes against an Australian citizen who reportedly served with the Israeli military during operations in Gaza, after receiving a detailed legal submission from the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ).
The 61-page brief alleges that the individual was involved in the unlawful destruction of civilian residential property in Gaza during military operations in 2023 and 2024. According to the ACIJ, the submission contains witness statements, satellite imagery, forensic material, videos, social media posts and other publicly available evidence to support the allegations.
The complaint centres on the demolition of a residential building that had reportedly been used by Israeli forces before being destroyed. The legal group contends that the destruction lacked military necessity and could constitute violations of Australian law relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The AFP has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed that the material is currently under assessment. Authorities have not announced a formal criminal investigation or laid any charges against the individual.
Under Australian law, citizens may serve in the armed forces of certain foreign countries. However, alleged involvement in war crimes or crimes against humanity may be investigated and prosecuted irrespective of where the alleged offences occurred.
The development has renewed debate in Australia over accountability for citizens participating in overseas conflicts. Rights groups have urged a thorough and independent investigation, while Israeli authorities have consistently maintained that their military operations are conducted in accordance with international law and have rejected allegations of unlawful conduct.
The AFP has not indicated a timeline for completing its assessment and emphasized that no conclusions should be drawn while the matter remains under review.
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