A group linked to Palestinians filed a petition to the Argentina court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested if he travels to the South American country to meet President Javier Milei in September.
According to information from the newspaper La Nacion, the request was filed by lawyer Rodolfo Yanzón and Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, on behalf of families of 15 members of the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Assistance in the Near East (Unrwa) and the Palestinian Red Crescent, who would have been killed in attacks by Israel in the war group Hamas Palestinian enclave.
The petition will be analyzed by federal judge Sebastián Casanello, who had already received other requests to fulfill an arrest order against Netanyahu, issued last year by the International Criminal Court (ICC), on accusations of war crimes and humanity in the conflict in Gaza.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, according to La Nacion, requests that, “In the event of the arrival of Benjamin Netanyahu, his immediate arrest is decreed to make him available to the International Criminal Court or, in his absence, to be submitted to Argentine territory.”
Argentina is a signatory to the Rome Statute, which created the TPI, then, in theory, would have to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the country.
Milei government sources told the Argentine press that Israeli prime minister is setting the details to go to Buenos Aires in September.
The Argentine government criticized the arrest warrant against Israel’s prime minister when it was issued by the ICC.
In a statement on social networks, Casa Rosada said at the time that the TPI’s decision “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to defend against constant attacks by terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.”
“Israel faces brutal aggression, an inhuman hostage and the indiscriminate launch of attacks against its population. Criminalizing the legitimate defense of a nation while these atrocities are omitted is an act that distorts the spirit of international justice,” the note pointed out.
