An IDF soldier had to urgently leave Sri Lanka after being accused by a pro-Palestinian organization.

An Israel Defense Forces soldier found himself in hot water in Sri Lanka when a pro-Palestinian organization accused him of committing crimes against Palestinians by comparing photos from social media with images from operations in the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities responded quickly, advising the soldier to leave the country immediately to avoid possible arrest.

Activists appealed to the Sri Lankan authorities with a demand to detain the soldier, and also filed a complaint against him with the International Criminal Court and Interpol. The soldier was taken from the island literally before being called in for interrogation, and this is not the first such case over the past year. According to journalist Yaron Avraham, similar episodes occurred earlier, including in Cyprus a month and a half ago.

This is not the first time an Israeli has found himself at the center of a scandal abroad, and such cases are becoming more frequent. Soldiers must respond quickly to accusations and negative attention from activists trying to draw attention to the conflict in the Middle East and pressure on Israel.