Switzerland says Israeli president is subject of criminal complaint

“The criminal complaints will be examined according to the usual procedure,” the Swiss Attorney General’s Office said, adding that it would contact the Swiss Foreign Ministry to look into the question of the immunity of the individual concerned.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland on January 18, 2024. Photo: Reuters

In theory, third countries do not have criminal jurisdiction over current heads of state, heads of government and foreign ministers of other countries.

The Swiss Attorney General's Office did not disclose details about the nature and number of complaints or who filed them.

A spokesman for the Israeli President's Office would not comment on the Swiss prosecutors' statement, saying only that Mr. Herzog had come to Davos to present Israel's position on the situation in Gaza.

Mr Herzog spoke at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, where he called on the international community to reject accusations of genocide against Israel.

President Herzog said last week that “there is nothing more brutal and unjustified” than the lawsuit filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

In its submission, South Africa named Herzog and other Israeli officials it said had expressed genocidal intentions towards Palestinians.

Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip was launched in response to a previous offensive on October 7, 2023 by the Hamas group, which displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million people and caused a severe humanitarian crisis.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thuy-si-noi-tong-thong-israel-bi-khieu-nai-hinh-su-tai-davos-post281682.html