International Justice and the Demand of the Peoples: The Necessity of Handing Over War Criminals Netanyahu and Gallant to Competent Courts

The time has come to end the policy of impunity and to transform international slogans about justice and human rights into genuine action that places criminals in the dock. The massacres committed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant against the Palestinian people are no longer hidden from anyone. They are now documented in human rights and UN reports, video evidence, and testimonies of thousands of survivors — all confirming the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Documented Crimes

• Direct targeting and killing of civilians, including thousands of children and women.

• The comprehensive siege that turned Gaza into an open-air prison, depriving its people of food, medicine, and water.

• Forced displacement and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and places of worship.

• The deliberate use of famine as a weapon of slow extermination, confirmed by UN reports.

Responsibility of Political and Military Leadership

Justice does not stop at prosecuting the soldier who pulled the trigger, but extends to those who issued the orders and designed the policies. Netanyahu, as Prime Minister, and Gallant, as former Defense Minister, bear direct responsibility for these crimes. The principle of “command responsibility” in international law establishes that political and military leaders are accountable for crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew about them and failed to prevent or punish the perpetrators.

Demands of International Justice

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestine, as it is a member of the Rome Statute.

• Issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant is an essential step to restoring the credibility of international justice.

• Member states must fully cooperate with the Court and refrain from providing it a safe haven.

• Any state that shelters them without handing them over to the ICC is complicit and bears legal responsibility.

Justice: A Demand of the Peoples

The blood of tens of thousands of Palestinian martyrs is not mere numbers in reports but innocent lives extinguished unjustly. The demand of peoples and human rights organizations to prosecute Netanyahu and Gallant is not about revenge, but an urgent humanitarian requirement to safeguard what remains of international law.

Ignoring these crimes sends a dangerous message: that power stands above law, and genocide can go unpunished. This undermines the global system of justice and paves the way for more wars and atrocities.

Call of International, Human Rights, and Media Organizations

International human rights organizations, together with global media and advocacy groups, have clearly articulated their demands:

• Urgent action to hand Netanyahu and Gallant over to the ICC.

• Formation of independent international investigation committees to pursue accountability and continue documenting atrocities.

• An immediate halt to all military and political support to Israel until its leaders face justice.

• Protection of journalists and media workers who expose the truth from silencing and pressure campaigns.

• Recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to justice, freedom, and dignity as integral to international peace and security.

Justice is not a political option but a legal and moral obligation. Prosecuting Netanyahu and Gallant and handing them over to international courts is a necessary step to honor the victims and protect humanity from the repetition of such crimes. Shielding criminals means complicity in their crimes, while delivering them to justice is a victory for law, for the people, and for the universal values that must always prevail.

International Union of Journalists and Writers