A complaint filed in Chile targets a former Israeli army sniper accused of roles in the siege of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza; social media evidence and the Hind Rajab Foundation's legal strategy have brought the case under universal jurisdiction
Date: 18 February 2026
Headline: Chilean courts weigh criminal complaint against former Israeli army sniper
Quick definition (universal jurisdiction)
Universal jurisdiction allows national courts to investigate and prosecute certain serious international crimes—such as war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity—regardless of where they were committed or the nationality of the accused.
What’s happening
Chile’s judiciary is examining a criminal complaint lodged against a former Israeli army sniper who served in Gaza. The complaint, filed by the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation and its legal partners, accuses the veteran of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s Gaza operations.
How the case reached Chile
The connection to Chile emerged after publicly shared social media posts placed the former soldier in the country while on holiday. Under Chilean law, those posts supplied the factual hook needed to file the complaint and to activate the country’s mechanisms for prosecuting grave international offenses under universal jurisdiction principles.
Why this matters beyond one courtroom
At stake is the scope of national courts to address alleged atrocities that occurred overseas. If Chilean prosecutors decide to pursue a full investigation and potentially a prosecution, the outcome could influence how human-rights groups use domestic courts elsewhere to seek accountability for international crimes. The case may also prompt debate about borders, evidence standards and the limits of universal jurisdiction.
Social media as evidence: what prosecutors are using
Investigators are relying heavily on open-source material: photos, videos and metadata that can place an individual at a specific time and location. Such digital footprints can corroborate witness accounts, establish timelines and link actions to alleged victims or incidents. At the same time, experts caution about authentication challenges and the need to respect legal standards for admissible evidence.
What to watch next
– Whether Chile’s prosecutors open a formal investigation.
– Requests for international cooperation (e.g., witness interviews, document sharing).
– Legal arguments about jurisdiction and admissibility of open-source evidence.
– Potential follow-up actions in other countries.
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