ICJP Files Criminal Complaint in Romania Against Suspected Israeli Soldier as Part of Global 195 Initiative
25th March 2025 – Bucharest / London – The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has today submitted a criminal complaint to the Romanian authorities, calling for the investigation and arrest of an individual suspected to be a member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently present in Romania.
The complaint, filed under ICJP’s Global 195 initiative, comes amid mounting evidence of serious crimes committed against the Palestinian people. It includes photographic evidence of the named suspect next to another soldier in clothing belonging to Palestinian civilians, and outlines credible allegations that the individual took part in Israeli military operations which may constitute war crimes under both Romanian and international law.
The submission also refers to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants issued for senior Israeli officials, and urges Romanian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under the Rome Statute, which Romania ratified in 2004, as well as the Romanian Criminal Code’s provisions on war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under domestic and international law, if a suspected war criminal is on Romanian soil, the country’s legal system must respond.
Under the Global 195 initiative, named for the number of countries under the jurisdiction of international criminal law, ICJP is coordinating legal interventions across multiple jurisdictions to hold perpetrators of international crimes accountable, wherever they may travel or reside. Following last week’s press conference with lawyers speaking from the UK, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Malaysia and Norway, this action represents the latest country where the initiative has reached.
ICJP’s legal team has requested that Romanian police detain the individual, seize their electronic devices for forensic examination, and initiate a full criminal investigation.
Tayab Ali, Director of ICJP said:
“No one who commits international crimes should be able to travel the world with impunity. Our Global 195 project is a direct response to the silence of governments and the paralysis of the international community. Romania now has a legal and moral duty to act. War crimes must be met with justice.”
The complaint marks the latest in a series of coordinated legal actions filed by ICJP across the globe, as pressure intensifies on states to uphold their international obligations and bring perpetrators to account.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. ICJP is a legal organisation based in London, working to uphold international law and defend the rights of Palestinians.
2. The Global 195 initiative targets individuals suspected of war crimes by leveraging domestic legal systems across all 195 countries that are bound by international criminal law.
3. Romania ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2004 and is legally obligated to cooperate with ICC investigations and prosecute war crimes within its jurisdiction.
4. For more information or for media inquiries, please contact the ICJP news desk at press@icjpalestine.com.