Complaint in The Hague against the Israeli Foreign Minister

 

According to ISNA, according to the foundation’s statement, “Gideon Sa’ar” is the Israeli Foreign Minister and a senior member of the “Benjamin Netanyahu” government and a key figure in the decision-making process of this regime, who plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing policies that lead to widespread displacement, collective punishment and systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians. He is also a factor in inciting violence and obstructing international justice mechanisms.

According to what was published by the Hend Rajab Foundation on its official website, the Rome Statute complaint highlights several serious allegations against Sa’ar, including war crimes (Article 8 of the Rome Statute) with collective punishment and forcible transfer, because he publicly called for the reduction of the territory of Gaza, a position that is directly consistent with Israel’s military actions that led to the forced displacement of 1.7 million Palestinians and the destruction of 72 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.

The foundation stressed that these actions violate one of the provisions of Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which prohibits the movement of civilians within the occupied territories.

According to the foundation, the establishment of military buffer zones and the targeted demolition of homes represent a deliberate policy aimed at permanently preventing the return of Palestinians, which is a clear violation of international law.

The Indian Rajab Foundation also accused the Israeli foreign minister of using starvation as a tool of war, as he supports Israel’s all-out blockade of Gaza, which has restricted food, water and medical supplies and created conditions of catastrophic famine.

The foundation said that by using starvation as a weapon, Israel has violated one of the provisions of Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which criminalizes depriving civilians of what is essential for their survival.

The complaint alleges that Saar has committed crimes against humanity in violation of Article 7 of the Rome Statute, through systematic persecution and repression, because he has publicly rejected the State of Palestine and supported policies that deprive Palestinians of their basic rights, which amounts to persecution under the aforementioned article, recalling Saar’s negative statements on the matter, when he said: “What is called Palestine is the land of Israel.” The foundation noted that this represents a policy of systematic discrimination aimed at eradicating the Palestinian identity and sovereignty.

The foundation continued: “Israeli settlement expansion, forced displacement, military blockade, and institutionalized apartheid policies have led to the severe and deliberate deprivation of Palestinians of their basic rights, which constitutes a crime against humanity.”

The complaint stressed that Saar “did not act alone” and that he was “part of a larger criminal scheme within the Netanyahu government that actively orchestrates policies that violate international law.”

The foundation said the case comes after the International Criminal Court recently issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for similar crimes in November 2024.

“Saar’s role as a senior cabinet member placed him at the center of decision-making processes that resulted in widespread civilian casualties,” the complaint said.

Saar could also be charged with command responsibility under Article 28, the foundation added, because he failed to prevent or punish his subordinates and those responsible for these crimes and instead supported and exacerbated them.

The Indian Rajab Foundation called for an urgent appeal to take action on Saar’s visit to Brussels on February 18, saying: “What adds to the urgency of this appeal is the fact that Gideon Saar is scheduled to visit Brussels on February 18, 2025.”

The foundation called on Belgian authorities to ensure that Saar does not evade justice while on European soil, stressing that allowing a suspected war criminal to visit Brussels unchallenged betrays international legal obligations and fundamental principles of justice.

The foundation concluded the statement by stressing that this appeal is part of its broader campaign for accountability, having previously filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court over allegations of 1,000 Israeli soldiers committing war crimes in Gaza.

The foundation added that it remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity are held accountable at the national and international levels.

The name of the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) is derived from the name of the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was martyred by the Israeli occupying forces after being surrounded by Israeli tanks in a car with her relatives, who were also martyred. She had been crying for help and rescue for days and the occupiers had prevented her rescuers from arriving.