Ben-Gvir to Skip UN Summit amid Legal Pressure
According to Israeli media reports, Ben-Gvir's office has not officially confirmed the cancellation. However, Haaretz, citing officials from the national security ministry, said the decision followed plans for protests against his visit and increasing demands by human rights organizations for legal action against him.
Earlier this week, the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation, together with the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, submitted a complaint to the US Department of Justice and called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate and prosecute Ben-Gvir over crimes committed under his authority.
The organizations accused Ben-Gvir of implementing policies involving systematic torture, abuse, killings and forced displacement, particularly within the Israel Prison Service, which falls under his supervision. They argued that New York authorities have jurisdiction to investigate because several New York residents were harmed by actions linked to Ben-Gvir's policies.
According to the complaint, 11 cases involving New York residents were cited, including 10 individuals who participated in aid flotillas bound for Gaza over the past two years and were allegedly subjected to abuse after being detained by Israeli forces. The complaint also referred to a Palestinian-American detainee who was allegedly subjected to starvation and other forms of torture while imprisoned in Israel.
In a statement posted on X, the Hind Rajab Foundation welcomed reports that Ben-Gvir had cancelled his New York trip, saying Israeli political and military leaders had long travelled abroad expecting impunity, but that expectation was now beginning to erode.
Ben-Gvir had been scheduled to attend the UN Chiefs of Police Summit on Tuesday and Wednesday as head of an official Israeli delegation.
The reported cancellation marks the second time within a month that Ben-Gvir has abandoned plans to travel to the United States. According to Haaretz, he also cancelled a private visit last month after reportedly encountering visa-related difficulties, although he was not expected to face entry problems for the official UN event.
Source:TRT
