Israeli Media: Ben Gvir Cancels His Trip to New York for Fear of Arrest

SadaNews - The Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has canceled a scheduled trip to New York to attend the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit, amid fears of protests against him organized by human rights groups, as well as increasing demands for an investigation and his arrest.

According to sources in the National Security Ministry quoted by the newspaper, the decision to cancel the visit came after internal security and political assessments indicated that Ben Gvir could face widespread protests in the United States, in addition to legal pressures related to calls for his legal prosecution due to his positions and policies.

Earlier reports indicated that Ben Gvir canceled his visit to the United States, while no extensive official comment was issued by his office regarding the reasons for the cancellation.

The Hind Rajab Foundation Welcomes

The Hind Rajab Foundation commented on the news of Ben Gvir's canceled visit, welcoming what it described as a development reflecting the impact of its efforts and those of other human rights organizations in pursuing Israeli officials legally on the international stage.

The foundation stated in a statement that it "welcomes the reports indicating that Israeli Minister Ben Gvir has canceled his trip to New York following the legal pursuit against him by our foundation and other human rights groups," adding that "Israeli political and military leaders have long traveled the world expecting to escape accountability, but this is beginning to fade. "

The foundation further added that the cancellation of an Israeli minister's visit due to the possibility of facing a criminal investigation reflects that accountability efforts are beginning to yield tangible results, considering that legal restrictions and human rights pressures are now affecting the movements of Israeli officials internationally.

The foundation noted that this development comes within a broader context of legal pursuits targeting Israeli political and military figures, affirming its commitment to working with international human rights entities to advance investigation and accountability processes.

It is worth noting that Ben Gvir was banned from entering France and Ireland at the end of May last year, following the release of a video showing abuses against detained activists from the "Solidarity Fleet" kneeling with their hands tied after being intercepted at sea and detained in southern Israel, which provoked international outrage.

Several countries, including France, Spain, and Italy, have called for European sanctions against him. Additionally, judicial authorities in both Italy and France announced the opening of investigations against him for allegedly torturing activists.