A group of prominent public figures connected to Israel has issued accusations that the country’s judicial system repeatedly ignored concerns. They claim calls for genocide in Gaza—spurred by a long list of ministers, members of parliament, military personnel, and media voices—demand action rather than mere rhetoric. In a letter addressed to the state attorney general, the signers, represented by El Periódico de Catalunya from the Prensa Ibérica group, note that since October 7 when Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel, the rhetoric accompanying government statements has crossed a line into incitement. They argue that this open provocation reflects the gravest crimes against civilians in the Gaza Strip and that the issue deserves a formal response from justice authorities. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
The eleven-page letter carries the endorsements of former diplomats, lawmakers, scientists, journalists, and academics, including figures such as Alon Liel, Ilan Baruch, Mossi Raz, David Harel, Akiva Eldar, Bradley Burston, and Izhak Schnell. Fifteen public figures are listed as represented by counsel Michael Sfard, a specialist in human rights. Sfard stated that there has been no response from Israeli authorities and urged a change in policy because incitement and genocidal discourse can translate into real harm on the ground. Since then, the conflict has displaced roughly two million people and wreaked extensive damage to infrastructure across the region. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
The letter notes that the included examples are only a sample of what it describes as hundreds of similar statements by public figures. It accuses senior officials, Knesset members, leading rabbis, and television hosts of endorsing language that calls for the destruction of millions, ethnic cleansing in Gaza, mass deportations, depopulation, or the obliteration of cities to their foundations. The intention, the signers say, is not fringe commentary but discourse from the upper echelons of political and media life. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
Call for the destruction of Gaza
One of the statements cited is a promise that Gaza should be razed to the ground, with death as the ultimate penalty for all involved, attributed to a representative associated with Jewish Power. The remark followed earlier remarks by a minister who spoke of nuclear options for Gaza. The letter also quotes members who supported mass deportation, immediate intervention against perceived enemies, and indiscriminate bombing tactics. The language attributed to some high-profile figures includes calls for harsh measures against Gaza and its population. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
Several ministers are described as supporting hardline positions. Avigdor Liberman is cited for the view that there are no innocents in Gaza—a thesis that media coverage has echoed alongside a broader cadre of journalists and commentators who advocate retaliation. The report highlights lines that depict women as threats and young people as future combatants, framing all civilians in Gaza as legitimate targets and endorsing extermination narratives. Yehuda Schlezinger of Israel Hayom is named among those included in the compiled statements. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
The signatories warn that normalizing rhetoric about destruction, erasure, and demolition could influence the conduct of soldiers. They reference the 1948 Genocide Convention and Israel’s own laws that criminalize incitement to genocide, noting that harming civilians as revenge would fall within the definition of terror and racism if used to describe an entire population. The letter stresses that sowing negative stereotypes about Gaza risks legitimizing violence and undermining human rights commitments. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
Indictment at the International Court of Justice
The letter asserts that the justice system not only failed to act but preferred silence, contrasting with swift police action against anonymous critics of Israel for online commentary. It was sent to the Ministry of Justice several days ago and has sparked discussion about a potential genocide case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The signatories contend that the inaction itself carries legal consequences, echoing arguments that genocidal intent can be inferred from certain statements. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]
The document notes that the United States has criticized calls to expel Palestinians but pointed to only a small number of extreme ministers while the government is considering broader relocation plans. A report in Israel Hayom suggested that negotiations with several countries might address Palestinian concerns through voluntary relocation measures, a development some observers view as a shift in official policy. [Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya, Prensa Ibérica]