Major General Ghassan Alian, Head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), is currently in Rome, Italy. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed cases with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Italian authorities, urging his immediate arrest for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Alian, who publicly referred to Palestinians in Gaza as "human animals," has no immunity from prosecution. Time is of the essence to ensure accountability for his actions. Alian’s Role in Atrocities
As head of COGAT since April 2021, Alian has overseen the administration of the West Bank and the long-standing blockade of Gaza. Following October 7, 2023, he supervised and enforced a total siege on Gaza, cutting off essential resources such as food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. This deliberate policy of deprivation has led to mass starvation, civilian deaths, and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including hospitals. COGAT is an arm of the Israeli Defense Ministry responsible for implementing government policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Under Alian’s leadership, COGAT coordinated military actions that targeted civilian infrastructure and imposed collective punishment on Gaza’s population. Reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations have described these actions as constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC Precedent and Alian’s Supervision of Crimes The ICC has already issued arrest warrants against Yoav Gallant and Benjamin Netanyahu for crimes stemming from policies of weaponizing famine and attacking civilian infrastructure such as hospitals. Alian played a pivotal role in supervising these same policies, ensuring their implementation through COGAT. His statements, including the infamous declaration that "human animals must be treated as such," demonstrate genocidal intent and a calculated effort to destroy the population of Gaza in whole or in part. No Immunity, Legal Obligation to Act Under international law, Alian has no immunity from prosecution for crimes of this nature. The HRF stresses that Italy, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is obligated to act. His presence in Rome provides Italian authorities with an opportunity to uphold international law by issuing an arrest warrant and ensuring his prosecution. “COGAT has been instrumental in enforcing policies that amount to collective punishment, which is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions,” stated Lawyer Haroon Raza of the HRF. “Major General Alian has directly overseen these crimes, and the time to act is now.” A Critical Moment for Justice Alian’s presence in Rome is a test of Italy’s commitment to justice and the rule of law,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, Chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation. “We cannot allow individuals responsible for these heinous crimes to evade accountability. Time is of the essence, and the world is watching.” The Hind Rajab Foundation calls on Italian authorities to act swiftly and decisively. The arrest of Major General Ghassan Alian would send a clear message that impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity will not be tolerated. Comments are closed.
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PERPETRATORSA perpetrator of war crimes or crimes against humanity is an individual who directly engages in, orders, or facilitates acts that constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law .
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January 2025
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