Israel's Netanyahu skips Davos over fear of arrest for Gaza war crimes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos this week amid concerns he would face arrest in Switzerland under an International Criminal Court warrant, according to Israeli media reports.

Netanyahu was replaced at the summit by Israel's President Isaac Herzog, who travelled to Davos on Tuesday and met German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

During the meeting, Herzog criticised the absence of Israeli officials from the forum and called for the removal of ICC arrest warrants issued against Israeli leaders, describing the court's actions as "politically motivated".

He did not address the substance of the allegations against Israel stemming from the crimes committed by its military campaign in Gaza.

In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel's relentless assault on Gaza.

The court said there were reasonable grounds to believe the two were responsible for crimes including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally directing attacks against civilians, and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, devastated the territory's civilian infrastructure and displaced nearly the entire population, actions that rights groups and legal experts have widely described as genocidal.

Israeli authorities had also suppressed protests calling for a ceasefire and a hostage deal, deploying mounted police, stun grenades and water cannon against largely non-violent demonstrators and arresting dozens during major "days of disruption" in Tel Aviv and other cities.

The ICC warrants were circulated to the 125 states party to the Rome Statute, which are legally obligated to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territory. Switzerland, which hosts the Davos forum, is a signatory to the treaty.

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel and US-aligned pressure groups of influencing organisers to cancel his appearance at the forum.

Araghchi had been scheduled to speak at Davos on Tuesday but was disinvited after organisers said it was "not right for the Iranian government to be represented this year", Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests.