Gaza war crimes case in Germany targets Israeli 'Ghost Unit' sniper
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The subject of the case is a German-Israeli sniper accused of killing unarmed civilians in Gaza as part of the Ghost Unit.
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Palestinians mourn over the body of a killed Palestinian child on July 20, 2025. (AP)
Human rights organizations have filed a criminal complaint in Germany against a 25-year-old Israeli soldier of German origin, accusing him of participating in the deliberate killing of unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The legal filing was submitted by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) in coordination with three Palestinian human rights groups. The complaint was lodged with Germany’s federal public prosecutor under laws permitting the prosecution of international crimes if the accused was born in Germany or holds German nationality.
The soldier, who was reportedly born and raised in Munich, maintained a registered residence in Germany until recently. While the ECCHR could not confirm whether he holds dual citizenship, it identified him as a member of the so-called “Ghost Unit”, an elite sniper division within the 202nd Paratroopers Battalion of the Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
Targeted killings near hospitals
In a detailed 130-page complaint, the rights groups provided investigative research, audiovisual evidence, and documentation accusing the unit of being responsible for targeted sniper attacks on civilians in Gaza. The incidents reportedly occurred between November 2023 and March 2024, particularly around Al-Quds Hospital and Nasser Hospital.
The ECCHR stated that the evidence demonstrates a pattern of intentional shootings carried out by the unit, potentially constituting war crimes under international law.
Legal proceedings against other members of the same unit are said to be ongoing in France, Italy, South Africa, and Belgium, further indicating international concern over the unit’s conduct.
Germany’s universal jurisdiction law in focus
The case was filed under Germany's universal jurisdiction framework, which allows its courts to investigate and prosecute international crimes regardless of where they were committed, provided the suspect is a German citizen or was present in Germany.
“There must be no double standards — even if the suspects are members of the Israeli armed forces,” said Alexander Schwarz, legal adviser at ECCHR.
Official silence
As of publication, neither the Israeli military nor the Foreign Ministry had responded to media inquiries regarding the allegations. Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office also declined to comment.
The case underscores growing legal pressure on "Israel" over its genocide in Gaza, where recurrent incidents involving civilian deaths have drawn condemnation from rights groups and international observers.
This comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced in its daily report on September 10, 2025, that hospitals received the bodies of 41 martyrs, including two retrieved from under the rubble, and 184 injuries in 24 hours. Many victims remain trapped beneath debris and along roads, unreachable due to continued bombardment.
Since October 7, 2023, as of September 10, 2025, the death toll of the Israeli genocide in Gaza has surged to 64,656 Palestinians, in addition to 163,503 injured.
Since March 18, 2025, the total toll has risen to 12,098 killed and 51,462 wounded.
