Gaza Herald – The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a legal complaint with Cypriot authorities demanding the arrest of Israeli soldier Sharon Dawit, a sergeant in the 424th Infantry Battalion “Shaked/Almond” of the Givati Brigade, for his role in acts of torture, war crimes, and genocide during Israel’s assault on Gaza. The filing, made on November 11 by human rights lawyer Nikoletta Charalambidou, is backed by forensic evidence, including a verified image showing Dawit posing over a naked, blindfolded Palestinian detainee.
The complaint cites violations of the Rome Statute and the UN Convention Against Torture, urging Cyprus to act under its universal jurisdiction laws. HRF’s investigation details Dawit’s participation in torture, humiliation, and forced displacement during Givati Brigade operations between December 2023 and September 2024, including posts he shared online glorifying abuse.
HRF argues the case is not symbolic but “procedural and concrete,” representing visual proof of Israel’s institutionalized torture system. The foundation links Dawit’s conduct to broader crimes documented by the UN Commission of Inquiry, which found that Israel’s practices in Gaza meet the legal threshold for genocide.
The foundation’s director warned Cyprus “must not become a safe haven for perpetrators of genocide,” calling on European nations to uphold justice under international law. HRF has launched similar legal actions across Europe to end Israel’s impunity for crimes committed during its ongoing campaign of annihilation in Gaza.
“Justice begins when impunity ends,” HRF’s legal team said, vowing to pursue accountability “wherever perpetrators hide, from Brussels to Nicosia.”
