Advocates for human rights petition for the detainment of Netanyahu on Argentinean territory
In a significant development, Argentine human rights attorney Rodolfo Yanzon and Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, have filed a criminal complaint against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The complaint, reviewed by Reuters, accuses Netanyahu of being criminally responsible for war crimes, including intentionally causing death by starvation, and crimes against humanity such as homicide, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The specific details of the incident under investigation are not provided, but it is known that the complaint was filed in Argentina's federal courts regarding an incident on March 23, in which 15 people were executed, including several first responders.
This complaint is in addition to an earlier one filed by the Association of State Workers (ATE) and HIJOS in early August, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. The warrant was filed in Argentine federal courts and later supplemented by the complaint filed by Yanzon and Sourani.
The Israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing mounting global pressure over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and the displacement of most of the population. Netanyahu was reported to have been expected to visit Argentina in September, but the government has not confirmed the visit.
Interestingly, there have been reports suggesting that Netanyahu may instead request a meeting with Argentina President Javier Milei in New York during the United Nations General Assembly in late September. However, the potential visit or meeting between the two leaders has not been confirmed.
It is important to note that Israel and Netanyahu deny the charges against them. Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the World Court, but the specific details and evidence supporting these accusations are yet to be fully disclosed.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has separately issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over war crimes accusations in Gaza. As an ICC member state, Argentina is obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he enters its territory, which could potentially lead to his arrest if he visits the country.
This ongoing situation underscores the complex and contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with human rights lawyers and international institutions continuing to press for accountability and justice.
