Swiss prosecutors to probe Israeli President over alleged war crimes in Gaza
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Amid allegations of human rights violations and war crimes by Israel in Gaza, President Isaac Herzog has become entangled in criminal complaints in Switzerland during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos..
Swiss prosecutors have confirmed the receipt of these complaints, which will undergo examination following standard procedures. The Office of the Swiss Attorney General stated that it would also explore the question of immunity for the individual concerned.
The criminal complaints are shrouded in mystery as the reasons behind them and the identity of the complainants remain undisclosed. The Swiss authorities are expected to contact the foreign ministry to assess the issue of immunity, acknowledging that, in theory, current heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers enjoy immunity from criminal jurisdiction by third countries.
Herzog's spokesperson did not directly address the Swiss prosecutors' statement but mentioned that Herzog had visited Davos to present Israel's position on the situation in Gaza. Meanwhile, the AFP news agency obtained a statement titled "Legal Action Against Crimes Against Humanity," reportedly issued by the complainants.
The statement revealed that several individuals had filed charges with federal prosecutors and cantonal authorities in Basel, Bern, and Zurich.
The complainants are seeking criminal prosecution concurrently with a case filed at the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) by South Africa. The latter accuses Israel of genocide in its offensive in Gaza. While a final verdict from the ICJ may take years, South Africa has requested "provisional measures," urging Israel to halt its military actions during the pending case.
Israel has vehemently denied the accusations from South Africa, labeling them as "baseless" and a "blood libel." The reasons behind the Swiss complaints are unclear, according to Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor James Bays. He suggested that they could be related to events during Herzog's attendance at the Davos summit or to previous statements made by Herzog about Palestinians, which were cited by South Africa's legal team at the Hague.
Notably, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas fighters on October 7, President Herzog stated that it was not only Hamas responsible for the violence but "an entire nation." Israel subsequently launched a fierce bombardment of Gaza, resulting in over 24,500 casualties, with 70 percent being women and children, according to the United Nations.