The Actual Criminal Cases Against Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu

Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu are territorial and cultural leaders. Collective valences differ. Are there criminal charges against both? Are both on trial? Where does each stand domestically and internationally in each regard?

What has been claimed about Mahmoud Abbas?

Internationally, no International Criminal Court warrant or indictment has been put forward for Mahmoud Abbas. No defendant page exists for Abbas on the International Criminal Court website. However, non-governmental organizations have filed communications urging the International Criminal Court to investigate Abbas. The submissions are one-sided, favouring prosecutors—neither judicial warrants nor charges are presented.

Other jurisdictions and proceedings exist. Abbas mentioned "50 Holocausts," and the Berlin police began an incitement probe. The Berlin Public Prosecutor concluded the remark had elements of incitement. The case was dropped due to immunity. No charges were filed.

In the United States, some victims sued the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization under the Antiterrorism Act. The United States Supreme Court upheld the jurisdiction, of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (PSJVTA), in Fuld v. Palestine Liberation Organization on June 20, 2025.

Antiterrorism Act suits were revived against the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization. Abbas was not held personally liable in this case.

The Court's holding was unanimous. It reversed the Second Circuit and held the PSJVTA's personal-jurisdiction hook constitutional. This allowed Antiterrorism Act suits to go forward when statutory predicates are met.

The Palestinian Authority had internal prosecutions over the 2021 killing of Nizar Banat—these targeted security officers, and not Abbas. Rights groups have criticized accountability. Rights organizations highlight that proceedings were delayed, narrowly scoped to low-ranking officers, and held in military courts. They see this as inadequate for civilian accountability.

What has been claimed about Benjamin Netanyahu?

Internationally, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant. This was issued against against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, by the International Criminal Court's Pre-Trial Chamber I. This rejected Israel's jurisdictional challenge. The International Criminal Court arrest warrant is active.

The crime allegations are war crimes and crimes against humanity. War crimes include starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against civilians. Cited documents are the Rome Statute Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) and 8(2)(b)(i) for the former; and Article 7(1)(a), 7(1)(h), and 7(1)(k) for the latter.

International Criminal Court judges emphasized there are "reasonable grounds to believe" the crimes were committed. Sufficient for warrants. Far from conviction. Warrants create arrest obligations for States Parties to the Rome Statute, although compliance often varies with political considerations.

Judges stated "reasonable grounds to believe" exist to believe the crimes were committed. These were sufficient for an arrest warrant, but not a conviction. Israel challenged these. Further, from May to July 2025, filings addressed Israel's challenges. Warrants are active. Slovenia barred Netanyahu's entry, citing the warrant.

Netanyahu's recent trip to the United Nations avoided the airspace of countries that are members of the International Criminal Court. France reportedly approved overflight, but Israel's route was still detoured. Analysts suggest that risk management and optics of avoiding States Parties to the Rome Statute were decisive.

In Israel (Jerusalem District Court), Netanyahu has an ongoing criminal trial, which opened in May 2020. There are three files: Case 1000 (gifts), Case 2000 (newspaper deal), and Case 4000 (Bezeq–Walla). The charges were fraud, breach of trust, and bribery when taken together.

Case 1000 included luxury gifts (for example, cigars, champagne, etc.) from Arnon Milchan and James Packer. Case 2000 included talks with Yedioth Ahronoth (a publisher) for softer coverage. Case 4000 involved regulatory benefits for favourable Walla! Coverage.

Prosecution rested in July 2024. His testimony began on December 10, 2024. Netanyahu pleaded not guilty. He remains on trial for corruption domestically. As of September 30, 2025, hearings are ongoing, with no verdict reached.

Where does each man sit now?

Abbas has neither an International Criminal Court warrant nor an indictment. Berlin found a 2022 remark met incitement elements, but the matter was closed due to immunity. Some United States litigation targets the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization as civil entities, but not Abbas.

Netanyahu has an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as warfare, attacks on civilians, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. He has an ongoing Israeli criminal trial for breach of trust, bribery, and fraud.

Benjamin Netanyahu is under an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant and is on trial in Israel; Mahmoud Abbas faces no public criminal charges or trials.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.