NGO Files War Crimes Complaint Against Top Israeli Officer Visiting Italy
Human rights group the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) on Monday filed requests with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Italian authorities to immediately detain Major General Ghassan Alian, alleging “genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.” Alian, who currently leads the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), is visiting Rome, Italy.
As head of COGAT, Alian oversees civilian policy in the West Bank and has coordinated aid deliveries into Gaza since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. However, HRF claims Alian has simultaneously “supervised and enforced a total siege on Gaza,” depriving civilians of essential resources such as food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. These actions, according to the foundation, have “resulted in mass starvation, civilian deaths, and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including hospitals.”
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HRF’s complaint cites United Nations reports criticizing COGAT’s activities as war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also references the ICC warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, arguing that Alian “played a pivotal role in supervising the same policies” and should be treated similarly. “His presence in Rome provides Italian authorities with an opportunity to uphold international law,” the foundation stated.
Additionally, HRF points to Alian’s October 2023 speech—during which he referred to certain Hamas actions as “inhuman” and called the perpetrators “human animals”—as proof of genocidal intent.
