Criminal complaints against Israeli President while attending Davos Forum

The Swiss Attorney General's office announced Friday that the authorities received a number of criminal complaints against Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog during his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos. The office told Al Jazeera that it is working to clarify its legal position in light of these complaints.

In statements to Al Jazeera, the office said that it is in contact with the Swiss Foreign Ministry, and will issue a statement on the next step after considering the complaints against Herzog. The prosecution seeks to address the issue of the Israeli President's immunity.

At the same time, a Swiss legal rights group said that individuals had filed complaints against Herzog with the Swiss federal prosecutor and the relevant authorities in the cities of Basel, Bern, and Zurich.

The Group emphasized that the immunity of such personalities could be lifted under certain circumstances, such as crimes against humanity, and stressed that such a situation met the requirements.

The Times of Israel, meanwhile, quoted the Israeli President's Office as saying that Herzog participated in the Davos forum as scheduled.

According to Israeli media reports, Herzog's office sees the criminal complaints filed against him as "a propaganda move that targets Israel's reputation".

Questions about immunity
The Israeli broadcaster said Switzerland had not disclosed the nature of the complaints or who filed them, but described the move as part of "legal proceedings in relation to crimes against humanity".

"They are seeking to criminally prosecute the president, while Israel is being prosecuted at the International Court of Justice in The Hague," the panel added.

As for the issue of the immunity of the President, the Swiss prosecution's memorandum states that it can be lifted in certain circumstances, including in the case of a complaint of crimes against humanity.

"Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague are currently examining South Africa's case against Israel for genocide in Gaza, after hearing arguments from both sides during two hearings a week ago."

The court is expected to issue a ruling this month on a possible urgent decision ordering Israel to stop the war on Gaza, which has left 24,762 Palestinians dead and 62,108 injured since its beginning last October, the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said on Friday.

South Africa's submission to the court to prove Israel's genocidal intent included a series of statements by senior officials including Herzog, who said on October 13, "It's an entire nation responsible for this (the October 7 attack). It's not true that the statement that civilians were unaware and not involved. It's not true at all."

On another occasion, Herzog was shown during a visit to the occupation forces signing a missile before its launch into the Gaza Strip.

Source: Al-Jazeera + agencies