Israeli minister scraps EU trip over arrest fears as regime forces delete social media accounts

Israeli minister of diaspora affairs Amichai Chikli has canceled his scheduled visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, amid fears of legal challenges facing Israeli forces and officials traveling abroad over Gaza war crimes.

The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Monday, saying Chikli's trip was called off “due to specific security warnings and on the advice of security agencies.”

Chikli expressed his disappointment in a post on the X platform, stating, “It is unfortunate that the European capital, Brussels, has become an unsafe place for Jews and Israelis.”

Reports from the Kan public broadcaster suggest that the cancelation stems from worries about possible legal repercussions during his visit.

Belgian authorities clarified that Chikli would not be granted diplomatic immunity since his trip was not official, as pro-Palestinian activists might attempt to secure an arrest warrant against him.

In response, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Brussels-based human rights organization, said Chikli's decision was an attempt to avoid “legal action,” asserting that they would continue their mission to “End Impunity.”

The organization noted that Chikli had previously issued a threatening message to HRF chairman Dyab Abou Jahjah on X which read, “Hello to our human rights activist. Watch your pager.”

Abou Jahjah condemned the move as “a blatant act of terrorism and incitement,” announcing plans to pursue legal action against Chikli.

Israeli forces delete social media accounts amid legal concerns

Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli soldiers have reportedly deleted their social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram prior to their upcoming trip to Brazil for the Rio de Janeiro Carnival scheduled for next month.

On Sunday, an unnamed Israeli soldier speaking to Israeli Channel 12 expressed fears that they could be detained by Brazilian authorities after complaints were lodged by Palestinian advocacy organizations.

The soldier recounted a previous incident where another Israeli military personnel was forced to flee Brazil through a complex operation to avoid arrest.

In December, an X account linked to the Israeli spy agency Mossad issued a stern warning to the regime's soldiers against sharing personal photos on social media, stressing that such actions could expose their identities to foreign authorities in countries they visit.

Hind Rajab Foundation names Israeli war criminals vacationing after Gaza genocide

Hind Rajab Foundation has filed legal complaints against Israeli soldiers who took part in the genocidal war on Gaza and are holidaying abroad now, calling for their arrest for war crimes.

The HRF recently announced that it had filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Sweden, Brazil, and Italy against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for perpetrating war crimes in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

The complaint targeted soldiers across all ranks, from high-ranking generals and air marshals to low-ranking personnel for direct involvement in genocidal war crimes in the besieged Palestinian strip.

Named after a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed during a military operation, the Hind Rajab Foundation aims to "break the cycle of impunity of the Israeli regime and honor the memory of Hind Rajab and other victims of the Gaza genocide."

Hind Rajab was the sole survivor of an attack on her family’s vehicle by an Israeli tank and she was later killed by Israeli forces.

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