Arab lawyers from across the region gathered in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to announce the formation of a unified legal coalition aimed at prosecuting Israeli war crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank.
The initiative, launched during a press conference at the Moroccan Bar Association headquarters, brings together legal professionals from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and other Arab countries.
Their goal is to mobilize legal expertise and resources to pursue accountability for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and acts of aggression attributed to Israeli forces and officials.
The coalition, named the Arab Legal Task Force for Prosecuting Israeli War Criminals, was introduced by prominent Moroccan attorney Khalid Sefiani, who emphasized the group’s commitment to supporting victims and pursuing justice through both national and international legal channels.
The task force will operate on two fronts: domestically, by activating legal mechanisms within Arab countries, and globally, by engaging with international courts and human rights organizations.
Its members plan to compile admissible evidence, including witness testimonies, forensic documentation, and legal briefs, to support criminal complaints under universal jurisdiction.
The formation of this task force comes in response to the devastating toll of the genocide in Gaza, which began in October 2023.
According to verified reports from Palestinian health authorities and international observers, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 18,000 children. Tens of thousands more have been injured, and Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been largely destroyed.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces have intensified raids and detentions, resulting in over 1,000 deaths, more than 10,000 injuries, and the imprisonment of over 20,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of minors.
The task force also aims to address recent violations of international law, such as the interception of the Freedom Flotilla in international waters. In July 2025, Israeli naval forces seized the Handala, a civilian vessel carrying humanitarian activists and aid supplies to Gaza.
Twenty-one civilians were abducted and detained, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for legal action.
The task force intends to investigate this incident and others like it as part of a broader effort to document and litigate crimes committed against civilians, journalists, medical personnel, and aid workers.
The coalition’s launch coincides with a significant legal development: the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe they were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, intentional attacks on civilians, and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
These warrants remain active and enforceable in member states of the Rome Statute, despite Israel’s rejection of the court’s jurisdiction.
Arab legal experts involved in the task force have called for coordinated efforts to initiate legal proceedings in European and Latin American countries that recognize universal jurisdiction.
They also plan to publish legal analyses of Israeli conduct under the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute, focusing on the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, the denial of food and medical access, and the systematic displacement of Palestinians.
The task force will work closely with international legal networks and human rights organizations to amplify its impact and ensure that perpetrators do not benefit from impunity.
This initiative reflects a growing determination among Arab legal professionals to confront injustice through the rule of law. By building a robust legal framework and pursuing accountability across jurisdictions, the Arab Legal Task Force seeks to uphold international humanitarian standards and affirm the rights of Palestinian victims in the face of ongoing aggression.
- WAFA (Palestine News & Information Agency) – Arabic report on the Rabat press conference and the task force’s objectives
https://www.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/134319 - The Voice Morocco (صوت المغرب) – Coverage of the legal coalition’s launch and statements by Khalid Sefiani and Abdelrahim Al-Jamai
https://sawtalmaghrib.ma/2025/10/21/محامون-عرب-يعلنون-تأسيس-مجموعة-عمل-قانونية-لملاحقة-مجرمي-الحرب-الإسرائيليين/ - Arabi21 Arabic-language report including updated casualty figures and ICC developments
محامون عرب يطلقون تحالفا قانونيا من الرباط لملاحقة مجرمي …
