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US-Israeli former soldier on visit to Netherlands accused of Gaza war crimes
The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint in the Netherlands against Noam Himmelman, a former US-Israeli soldier now in Amsterdam. It alleges he was involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide during Israel’s war on Gaza; the allegations have not been proven.
The complaint, submitted on 4 November under the Dutch International Crimes Act, concerns alleged attacks on schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, mass detentions and demolitions in Beit Hanoun. HRF says soldiers surrounded schools there on 16 April 2024 and detained men, including elderly people and teenagers, and that Himmelman documented arrests in a geolocated Instagram story. It also alleges that his battalion demolished residential buildings between January and July 2025.
In short
- HRF filed a Dutch criminal complaint against former soldier Noam Himmelman.
- The allegations concern events in Beit Hanoun during the Gaza war.
- The Dutch law allows prosecution of international crimes when suspects are in the country.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those supporting investigation argue that credible allegations of grave international crimes should be examined wherever a suspect is found, and that a geolocated post and other evidence may justify scrutiny under Dutch law. A fair investigation could establish what happened and whether Himmelman bears individual responsibility, while giving victims a route to accountability.
The case against
Those cautioning against the complaint argue that filing it does not establish that crimes occurred or that Himmelman was personally responsible; social media documentation and service in a battalion are not, by themselves, proof of criminal conduct. They would stress the need for independently tested evidence, clear links to specific acts and due process before drawing conclusions or imposing consequences.