Buenos Aires — Human rights lawyers in Argentina have filed a criminal complaint calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and directing a campaign of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza with the full support of the United States and its Western allies.
The complaint, lodged in Argentina’s federal courts, portrays Netanyahu not as a statesman but as a war criminal whose decisions have led to massacres, starvation, and systematic terror against a besieged population. Lawyers charge that Israel’s military, under his command, deliberately used starvation as a weapon and carried out mass executions, including the killing of 15 people on March 23, among them first responders who rushed to help bombing victims.
The petitioners argue that Argentina has a legal and moral obligation to act under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which empowers courts to prosecute the gravest international crimes regardless of where they are committed. They stressed that allowing Netanyahu to enter Argentina without facing arrest would make the country complicit in shielding a figure widely accused of ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Argentina’s government has remained silent on speculation that Netanyahu could travel to Buenos Aires in September, while reports now suggest he may instead meet Argentine president Javier Milei in New York during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Human rights groups say such evasions highlight how Western-aligned governments continue to protect Israeli leaders despite mounting evidence of atrocities.
Earlier this month, the Association of State Workers and the rights organization HIJOS also filed a separate demand for an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, underscoring domestic outrage over Israel’s campaign of destruction. Legal advocates insist that Netanyahu must face justice, whether in Argentina or before international courts, to prevent further normalization of the Gaza Genocide.
Israel’s allies, particularly Washington and European capitals, have consistently provided Netanyahu with political cover and military backing. The United States has repeatedly vetoed Gaza ceasefire resolutions at the UN, while simultaneously supplying weapons to Israel, a strategy critics say has enabled the continuation of genocide in Gaza and destabilized the wider Middle East.
The International Court of Justice is currently weighing charges of genocide against Israel, while the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu for war crimes. Israel and its allies dismiss these efforts as politically motivated, even as humanitarian agencies warn of crimes against humanity.
According to Arab News, the Argentine case cites Netanyahu as a “co-perpetrator” of war crimes, homicide, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The filing reflects a growing international movement determined to hold Israel accountable, even as the West continues to shield it from justice.
The United States has long acted as Israel’s shield against accountability, using its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to block sanctions and resolutions aimed at curbing Israel’s aggression.
By supplying Tel Aviv with weapons while simultaneously obstructing international efforts to impose punitive measures, Washington has ensured that Israel remains above the law. This strategy, human rights advocates argue, has allowed the genocide in Gaza to continue unchecked, with the US effectively granting Netanyahu a license to commit atrocities without fear of consequence.
