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Chilean court reopens case against soldier accused of Gaza war crimes
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Rom Kovtun, who served as a sniper during the Al-Shifa Hospital operation, is facing allegations of war crimes and Gaza genocide in Chilean courts. [Photo source –The Hind Rajab Foundation]
by Eman Abusidu EmAbusidu
A recent judicial ruling in Chile has revived scrutiny of a criminal complaint against an Israeli-Ukrainian soldier accused of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, reviving a legal debate over the application of universal jurisdiction in the country.
The Santiago Court of Appeals overturned a prior ruling by the Eighth Guarantee Court, which had refused to examine the complaint against Rom Kovtun. The appellate court ruled that the question of jurisdiction cannot be decided without hearing all parties involved.
A public hearing is scheduled for 12th June, where the complainant, the defence, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office will present arguments on whether Chilean courts have the authority to investigate alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed abroad.
The complaint was filed in February by the Hind Rajab Foundation through Chilean lawyer Pablo Andrés Araya Zacarías. It seeks Kovtun´s investigation under Chilean Law No. 20.357, which criminalises genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, in line with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
According to the complaint, Kovtun served as a sniper in the 424th “Shaked” Battalion of the Givati Brigade and operated under the 401st Armored Brigade during military operations in Gaza. He is accused of participating in the siege and destruction of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City between March and April 2024. The operation reportedly caused extensive damage to medical infrastructure and civilian casualties, including patients and hospital staff.
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Legal experts and human rights advocates caution that the Court of Appeals’ decision does not confirm the allegations or rule on the merits of the case. Its purpose is limited to determining whether Chilean courts have jurisdiction to examine the complaint. The outcome of the June hearing will decide whether Chile proceeds with a formal criminal investigation or dismisses the case as outside its jurisdiction.
READ: Director of ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ declines award at Berlin event
Chilean lawyer and former ambassador Nelson Hadad highlighted the lack of legal consistency in Chile regarding universal jurisdiction. “This issue lacks consistent jurisprudence; that is, in most cases, the Chilean judiciary has rejected the principle of universal jurisdiction and the extraterritorial application of the law,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming hearing, Hadad noted, “In this case, there is a hearing scheduled for 10th June in which… will there be a ruling on this matter? It could perhaps be the first time.”
He emphasised the cautious approach of the judiciary and prosecutorial authorities. “The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary as such accept some arguments to be able to prosecute in Chile this Israeli soldier responsible for numerous crimes,” Hadad explained.
At the same time, he highlighted past reluctance from Chilean authorities. “But I believe that the Public Prosecutor’s Office, especially the North Central Prosecutor’s Office where Prosecutor Armendariz is, has been consistently reluctant to accept universal jurisdiction,” he said.
Looking ahead, Hadad stressed the potential impact of a favorable ruling. “We are waiting to see what happens because if it were the opposite and it were accepted, it would set a very important legal precedent for trying numerous cases from Chile with the Chilean justice system, crimes committed abroad, in this case, crimes committed in Gaza and throughout occupied Palestine.”
He concluded with cautious optimism: “So we can talk again on 10th June, once the court has ruled on this point. But at least there is hope.”
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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
6 June 2026
Most people in 36 countries hold unfavorable views of Israel: Poll
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at his office in Jerusalem on 16 February, 2025 [EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]
A majority of people in 36 countries hold unfavorable views of Israel and lack confidence in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a new survey Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
The survey, conducted Feb. 8 – May 13, 2026, found that a global median of 67% of adults view Israel unfavorably, while 25% hold a favorable view.
Views were particularly negative in Muslim-majority countries that were surveyed, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkiye, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The majority in most surveyed countries said they have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing regarding world affairs, it said.
Kenya and the Philippines were the only countries where more than half of the public expressed confidence in the Israeli prime minister, it added.
Unfavorable views of Israel increased in 13 of the 24 countries where trend data were available since 2025, said Pew.
READ: Israel becomes world’s most disliked country, global survey finds
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
6 June 2026
Iran seeks ceasefire across Lebanon, Ghalibaf tells Berri
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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran, Iran on April 16, 2026. [Iranian Parliament Speaker Office – Anadolu Agency]
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told his Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri during a phone call that Tehran is determined to secure a ceasefire across all of Lebanon, including the south.
During the call, Ghalibaf said: “If the crimes continue, we will stop the negotiations.”
He added: “The bond between Iran and Lebanon is inseparable, and our lives and your lives are one.”
Ghalibaf said that if an agreement is reached to end the war between Iran and the United States, it would include a halt to attacks on all fronts, particularly Lebanon.
He stressed that “if the crimes continue, we will not only stop the negotiations, but we will also stand against the Zionist entity.”
For his part, Berri said: “Lebanon will never forget Iran’s positive positions during this critical period.”
Earlier, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the Iranian negotiating team had suspended the exchange of messages with the United States through mediators following Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Citing sources, the agency said: “Given the continued crimes of the Zionist entity in Lebanon, and because Lebanon was one of the preconditions for a ceasefire, and since that ceasefire has now been violated on all fronts, including Lebanon, the Iranian negotiating team is suspending dialogues and the exchange of messages through mediators.”
The developments come amid rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, as Tehran seeks to ensure that any ceasefire covers all regional fronts, including Lebanon, while clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue to escalate.
Trump rebukes Netanyahu over Lebanon escalation, says it threatens Iran talks: report
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
6 June 2026
Palantir. IT’S WORSE Than You Think
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5 June 2026
Is Britain Header For DICTATORSHIP?
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5 June 2026

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