From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Top general returns to Israel after activists sought to have him arrested in Italy
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A senior Israeli general who was visiting Rome this week has returned to Israel after a pro-Palestinian organization said it had asked Italian authorities to arrest him.
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who heads the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories, a Defense Ministry body known by its acronym COGAT, arrived back in Israel this morning according to his original schedule, a defense source tells The Times of Israel.
On Monday, the Hind Rajab Foundation, which has sparked alarm in Israel by seeking the arrest of Israelis traveling abroad over alleged war crimes, claimed to have filed a case with unspecified “Italian authorities” against Alian.
The foundation said it also filed a case with the International Criminal Court in The Hague against Alian, asking it to issue an international arrest warrant for “genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
There was no immediate comment from Italian judicial authorities or from The Hague on the request.
Alian was on an official visit to Italy as part of his role as head of COGAT.
The defense source says the visit went smoothly without issues, and he returned this morning as planned.
The Times of Israel Community.