Johannesburg – #Africa4Palestine has welcomed the reported probe into South Africans who have joined the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the deadly war in Gaza.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) – has reportedly launched an investigation into 22-year-old South African Aaron Bayhack for his alleged involvement with the IDF accused of killing more than 40 000 Palestinians – including women and children – in Gaza.
Sandton-born Bayhack, is a member of a notorious Israeli elite sniper team, the Ghost Unit, recently exposed by Al Jazeera and Palestinian journalists for openly admitting and celebrating the targeting and killing of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
In the expose, the video footage shows members of the notorious team killing Palestinian children, recording it and sharing it in jubilation.
Reports estimate that more than 100 Palestinians have been killed by this Israeli sniper unit.
Earlier this month, the Economic Freedom Fighters party approached the SA National Prosecuting Authority and Department of Defence to probe Bayhack’s reported involvement with the IDF.
The probe into Bayhack comes ahead of the much anticipated International Court of Justice ruling on South Africa’s case alleging Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
News24 reports that: “Authorities have launched an investigation into the participation in the war in Gaza of a 22-year-old man from Sandton who was identified as a member of an elite sniper unit serving in the IDF”.
News24 reports that the DPCI, also known as the Hawks, confirmed it was investigating Bayhack for his alleged role in the Israel-Gaza war in which more than 43 000 Palestinians and 1 139 Israelis have been killed.
News24 quotes DPCI spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale as saying the matter was being handled by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit.
“Today we learned that South African law enforcement agencies are probing the involvement of Aaron in the Israeli Occupation Forces,” #Africa4Palestine said in a statement on Friday, (25 October 2024).
“This comes after numerous criminal complaints were laid against the young executioner by organisations and citizens of South Africa.
“Although long overdue, we welcome this initiative by South Africa’s high-ranking investigative authorities and encourage South Africans to provide any and every evidential material that might assist the investigation.”
#Africa4Palestine said Aaron was not the only South African citizen involved in the Israeli war in Gaza.
“He is part of a long list of South Africans who believe they can go to Palestine, kill Palestinians at will, and come back to South Africa without prosecution or accountability,” said #Africa4Palestine.
“The likes of Benjamin Rattle, Tim Flack, Lee Taljaard, and Dan Goldfus to name but a few, are South Africans who have participated and/are participating in the gross human rights violations of Palestinians and must be prosecuted to the full might of the law in our courts upon their return.
“Our government has a documented and established set of laws that prohibit South Africans from participating in foreign military operations.”
#Africa4Palestine said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, has on several occasions, promised to initiate prosecutorial processes against South Africans “who have participated in Israel’s genocide and war crime”.
In terms of the SA Regulation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, 1998 (Act No. 15 of 1998), any person wishing to render foreign military assistance in Israel must first apply to the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), which will make a recommendation to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans that such an application be granted or refused.
“Any person joining the IDF without the necessary permission of the NCACC is breaking the law and can be prosecuted,” explains the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
#Africa4Palestine said: “We encourage South Africans, of all creeds, races, religions, and backgrounds to submit names and any evidence of South Africans who are participating or have participated in the Israeli occupation forces’ crimes against Palestinians to their nearest law enforcement agency”.
