Madrid - Saba:
Spanish judiciary has opened a criminal investigation against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and military officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the attack on the Madeleine ship last June.
Lawyer and Member of the European Parliament Jaume Assens announced on the X platform on Tuesday that he had filed a complaint against Netanyahu with the Spanish National Court on behalf of Spanish activist Sergio Toribio and the "Committee for Solidarity with the Arab Cause."
Assens announced that the Spanish National Court had opened a criminal investigation against Netanyahu, Sa'ar, and a number of senior Israeli military officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the attack on the humanitarian aid ship Madeleine.
He emphasized that the court's decision means that the attack on the Madeleine "constitutes a crime," indicating that the investigation will examine the use of drones and tear gas, and the unlawful detention of 12 activists on board the ship.
He pointed out that the decision to investigate is an important step in combating Israeli impunity.
He added, "When states fail to fulfill their obligations, civil society has a duty to mobilize justice as a moral, legal, and political tool against this horror."
Assens expressed his hope that this initiative will spread to other countries, and that Netanyahu will not be able to enter Europe without facing justice.
On June 9, the Israeli occupation forces seized the Freedom Flotilla ship, the Madeleine, in international waters while it was en route to the besieged Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid, and arrested the 12 international activists on board.
In the following two days, Israel deported four activists who had signed a pledge not to return to Israel, while the remaining eight refused to sign.
On June 16, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced the release of all other human rights defenders detained by Israel.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
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