The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), together with the Palestinian human rights organizations Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), has filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. The complaint names a member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) originating from Munich who is suspected of having been involved in the targeted killing of unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The organizations are calling for the initiation of investigations under international criminal law on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The criminal complaint is based on extensive evidence documented through investigative research and audiovisual recordings. The research points to the existence of a sniper unit within the IDF known as the “Ghost Unit” – the 9th Platoon of the Auxiliary Company of the 202nd Paratroopers Battalion. Members of this unit are suspected of deliberately killing Palestinian civilians. There are numerous other reports of similar civilian killings in connection with the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Evidence of the systematic killing of civilians
Since the start of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip on 8 October 2023, at least 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 16,000 children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Over 125,000 more have been injured. These figures have also been confirmed by international organizations including the United Nations. Between November 2023 and March 2024, a series of targeted killings of civilians took place in and around Gaza’s Al-Quds and Nasser Hospitals. Witnesses consistently reported targeted sniper shootings in these areas. Numerous soldiers with dual nationality have reportedly served within the “Ghost Unit.” In addition to the criminal complaint now filed in Germany, legal action has already been taken against members of this unit in France, Italy, South Africa and Belgium.
Obligation to prosecute
ECCHR emphasizes that Germany has a fundamental obligation to investigate alleged perpetrators of core international crimes – particularly if the accused persons were born in Germany or are German nationals.
Dr. Alexander Schwarz, Co-Director of the International Crimes program at the ECCHR, explains: “If persons originating from Germany are suspected of involvement in war crimes, there is a clear mandate for the judiciary to act. The targeted killing of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip is a blatant violation of international criminal law. Germany is obliged under international law to independently investigate and prosecute such acts. There must be no double standards – even if the perpetrators are members of the Israeli armed forces or if the government in question has a special political partnership with Germany.”
