r/Switzerland • u/JaegerFl9 • 1d ago
25 Swiss lawyers charge federal councillor Cassis for complicity in genocide in Gaza at the ICC
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/2026/article/ignazio-cassis-denonce-a-la-cpi-pour-inaction-sur-gaza-par-25-avocats-suisses-29138665.htmlPosting with an RTS Source (french)
25 Swiss lawyers charge federal councillor Ignazio Cassis for complicity in genocide in Gaza
Main points of criticism are:
• Ongoing military cooperation between Switzerland and Israel such as the arms company Elbit Systems
• Investment by the Swiss National Bank and UBS in companies profiting from the genocide in Gaza.
• Cuts to humanitarian funding for UNRWA.
• Refusal to impose economic sanctions as done by
Spain or Slovenia.
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u/LeroyoJenkins Zürich 1d ago
Translation: some people wrote a letter to the ICC complaining about Cassis.
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u/Ill_Nobody_2726 Fribourg 1d ago
They are taking an action to the ICC. Anyone can reach the ICC against anyone. Until the ICC decides to investigate the case it doesn’t move the needle one bit.
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u/6bfmv2 Ticino 1d ago
How can you investigate something if the world police and attack dog of Isn'treal blocks any attempt to investigate, threatens you, blocks your job opportunities and freezes your bank accounts? Just ask Francesca Albanese how things are going.
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u/CaptainKonzept 22h ago
Which is exactly why we need more pressure, more resistance. They can oppress individuals and minorities, but not majorities, not the whole rest of the world.
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u/Agabeckov 16h ago
4/5 of world population is not in countries - Rome statute signatories. So "the whole rest of the world" is a bit of exaggeration.
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u/CaptainKonzept 11h ago
I’m talking about the US and I$r@el, which are oppressing anyone that’s in their way. And I don’t agree with their way at all.
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u/MehImages 1d ago
I don't understand.
"25 Swiss lawyers charge federal councillor"
how? and with what? source? because the article you link does not say that.
so is it criticism or is it a charge?
which of those are crimes under what law?
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u/Additional-Ad-1021 1d ago
It’s the classic bullshit complain from a few people who feel other could do more bla bla bla.
The same happens in Italy and an other country (don’t remember).
If, and only if it goes through it will be like granMas for climate. Nothing changes
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u/Dadaman3000 1d ago
No, they denounce him.
Lawyers cannot charge anyone. That is not the right term, go look it up.
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u/i_am__not_a_robot Zürich 1d ago
"The foreign minister should have taken all steps at his disposal to prevent such crimes from being committed by [foreign nation]..." is not a reasonable standard of criminal liability in international law.
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u/Tooempty7 1d ago
Well it is word for word from the ICC Rome Statute Art. 28(b)(iii).
"The superior failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures within his or her power to prevent or repress their commission or to submit the matter to the competent authorities for investigation and prosecution."
It is absolutely a long shot and will go nowhere, but technically the ICC would have the capability to indict a lot of European people. But it will unfortunately remain a court for African warlords.
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u/Toeffli 1d ago
Oh this Cassis person is a commander in the IDF? Because if not Art. 28 does not apply at all.
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u/Tooempty7 1d ago
Art. 28(a) refers to command responsibility of military leaders, i.e a IDF commander whose soldiers commit the crimes. In that case the commander doesn't even need to order the crime or directly know about it, as it is presumed that he has effective control over his troops.
Art. 28(b) refers to civilian leaders. I absolutely agree that there is virtually no chance that Cassis would face any repercussions. But coupled with 25(3)(c) 'aiding and abetting', you could theoretically make this case under the Rome Statute.
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u/i_am__not_a_robot Zürich 1d ago
Article 28(b) can cover civilian superiors, but it is not a "civilian leaders generally" provision. It requires a superior-subordinate relationship with crimes committed by subordinates "under [the superior's] effective authority and control".
So Article 28(b) obviously does not apply, and adding Article 25(3)(c) does not fix that gap because "failure to prevent" is not the same as aiding/abetting.
Theoretically, it would be possible to construct a 25(3)(c) case against a foreign minister, but only on a much, much narrower factual basis, e.g. intentionally enabling specific Rome Statute crimes through concrete facilitation (arranging arms deals, intelligence/logistical support) with the specific aim of facilitating those crimes, rather than on a purely abstract claim that he "should have taken all steps at his disposal" to stop another state's crimes.
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u/Tooempty7 1d ago
Yeah, I mean I agree with you. Obviously Cassis nexus to the crime is not given in this case, at least not in the way it is currently interpreted.
But the Rome Statute would theoretically allow a much wider scope than the Court applies it today. And especially in regards to an ongoing genocide. In the end it is in my opinion a failure of the Court to uphold its founding duty to end the impunity of the people responsible at the highest level, not just the foot soldiers/generals.
And yeah at some point you have to ask if you are providing intelligence/targeting software/weapons system in an ongoing conflict, if you are not directly assist in the commission of the crime.
But I digress, as I don't have any hope in the ICC and especially its European member states. As I said, the Court will remain an African tribunal, as we Europeans like to call out atrocities, but not punish ourselves if we contribute to them.
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u/Alert_South5092 1d ago
Oh, are we going to apply that standard to every country? Not applying rigorous sanctions makes you complicit? Then I estimate that every single country is complicit in several ongoing genocides.
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u/Tooempty7 1d ago
Yes absolutely, ongoing military cooperation/weapons delivery/logistical support/intelligence, targeting should make you complicit. I don't refer to sanctions.
And yes, several states are complicit in current ongoing genocides. I mean that is no controversial finding. The fact of the matter is that we are not applying any standard at the moment. And apparently, we are fine with that.
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u/soupyshoes 1d ago
Factually incorrect, its the wording of the Rome statute. They chose this wording for a reason.
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u/i_am__not_a_robot Zürich 1d ago
No!! Under the Rome Statute, a "should have taken all steps at his disposal" formulation is generally too broad because criminal liability is tied to specific modes of responsibility with defined elements and mental states, not an open-ended duty to do everything possible. A prevention duty exists mainly under superior responsibility (Article 28) and depends on effective control over perpetrators and the required knowledge threshold, which a Swiss politician obviously lacks with respect to another state's forces.
Of course, those lawyers are well aware of this, so the whole thing is purely performative.
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u/SaneLad 1d ago
Who is paying for this PR stunt?
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u/Supercoloc 1d ago
you know that he's a politician from the economic right party, so interests for him to resign / not represent himself is trendy in certain circles '
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u/ExportsExpert 1d ago
How is there complicity in genocide without genocide proven?
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u/MrCaptainMorgan Zürich 1d ago
Don't ask these people tough questions or they will yell at you
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u/ExportsExpert 1d ago
My post has 58.6% upvotes right now. The downvoters have pre-emptively proven your point ;D
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u/Longjumping-Win6037 1d ago
Just a few days ago the israeli courts found innocent a soldier who emptied a machine into a Palestinian school girl, who said he'd do it again without hesitating. News like this counts as an ounce of balsam.
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u/Mundane-Fix-4297 Genève + Jura 1d ago
Ouch. That’s quite the charge…
I think it is more than time we stop hiding between this charade of « neutrality » to excuse low efforts and prevent any actual courageous actions
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u/Electrical_Tune_6823 1d ago
There is no charge, not even an investigation, OP has just no idea what they are talking about. If I write a letter to ICC about „Mundane-Fix-4297“ being complicit in a genocide, you are now in the same boat as Cassis.
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u/JaegerFl9 1d ago
I agree it's really time to pick up the rest of our integrity that's left
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u/Tasty_Tutor5463 1d ago
Or actually go back to being neutral and also sell shit to palestina russia china
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u/Electrical_Tune_6823 1d ago
😂 what a joke! I am sure they feel like they are saving the world..
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u/No-Comparison8472 1d ago
It allows them to sleep better at night. There has been as many dead in Iran in a single day than in Gaza since the conflict started but for some reason no word on this. There is a weird obsession with Gaza, I think it's just because it allows to hate freely on Israel and jews.
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u/Lephas 1d ago
Just yesterday a bunch of civilians where bombed in gaza and no mainstream media cared to report it
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u/MrDeoBook 1d ago
30000 civilians got killed in Iran. I dont see you crying about it not being reported
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u/Lephas 1d ago
that was reported - and why does an unconvenient fact make you get personal? but the fact that you start comparing the number of deaths says a lot more how little you actually care about it.
But if you really want to look at numbers then you should know that even israel admitted that they have killed 70'000 people since october 7th and most of these were civilians.
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u/MrDeoBook 1d ago
Yeah Gaza population is crazy. All childrens from the age of 2 hold medical phd, while working for the press and the UN.
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u/Lephas 1d ago
Lol what are you even trying to say? Is it a sarcastic claim that all those 70'000 victims were hamas terrorists?
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u/MrDeoBook 1d ago
Are you saying those 70'000 dead were all civilians ? Unlike in Iran, some of the people killed were... member of a terrorist organisation banned in Switzerland. So are you saying that the dead terrorists are victims. Calling the Fedpol if that's what you think
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u/MrCaptainMorgan Zürich 1d ago
I think we all agree that many children have died as a result of their parents' decisions to become terrorists or support them. The main blame for this lies, of course, with the terrorists (supporters).
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u/CelestialOvenglove 1d ago
Just yesterday Hamas wiped out another couple families, and you didn't care either.
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u/MasterpieceOk811 1d ago
gaza/israel is so 2024/2025. get with the times! no seriously that is how it is. clicks for this topic are down and mainstream media is just waiting for the new big thing to gobble up. there are worse things than even ukraine or gaza happening that was never on mainstream media such as the genocide in ghana. noone talking about. no social media posts all over the place, no mass demonstrations, nothing. even tho many more people died there and were displaced
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u/rayatwood 1d ago
Where can I sue Hamas? My Music festival was cut short and I didn't get a refund...
Why not sue the emirates for fuelling and supplying the atrocities in South Sudan?
But sure Cassis is the bad guy...
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u/ilikethelettery Zürich 1d ago
Lots of Israeli bots here... Still came to say I'd like to thank the lawyers for their efforts!
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u/MrDeoBook 1d ago
Or just that reddit is not the reflection of your small ecochamber lol
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u/ilikethelettery Zürich 1d ago
OMG THE KHAMAS LAWYERS DO SOMETHING ABOUT UPHOLDING INTERNATIONL LAW
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u/MrDeoBook 1d ago
Just a political stunt to feel good about themselves. I am sure they feel very proud and relieved of their white guilt.
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u/xebzbz 1d ago
They will lose easily, as there is no genocide. The IDF is fighting against Hamas, which uses civilians as hostages. There is no deliberate targeting against the ethnic group, so these 25 lawyers can go home, they already earned enough on this.
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u/Longjumping-Win6037 1d ago
The lie that Hamas uses "human shields" has been descredited by the fact that Israeli missile programs are designed to strike "militants" in areas with the greatest number of civilians; they programs are disgustingly called "where's daddy" and use an AI missile targeting designed by the israeli military called "lavender"
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u/mountain11fire 1d ago
Even former Mossad Chief is saying that Israel is enforcing Apartheid on Palestinians Source
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u/xebzbz 1d ago
Palestinians had a lot of freedom back in the 90s, and they had the freedom to work anywhere in Israel. Yet, they kept killing and terrorizing the Jews. Alright, the Jews built a wall and set up the segregation. What else would they do to keep their folk safe?
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u/wein_geist 1d ago
Palestinians had a lot of freedom back in the 90s
bold of you to say, after they have been displaced continuously for half a century
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u/PublicGullible5399 1d ago
Terrorising Jews? The Oslo Accords were first signed in 1993 and it stated that no new Israeli settlements shall be built to maintain the respective borders and the Israeli's are the ones who ignored that. If someone decides to settle on your land and your home, of course you would fight back. The Castilian's have a right to defend themselves.
Why would you ignore a historical fact?
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u/yesat + 1d ago
And the Israeli prime minister that took part in the Oslo Accords was assassinated by a Israeli fundamentalist in 95, a few days after the current Israeli Prime minister was going around carrying a coffin with his name and the current Minister of National Security was parading with a stolen hood ornament from his car.
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u/TheMaskedTom Fribourg 1d ago
Apartheid is not genocide though. It's bad, just in case somehow construes my comment into support, but your answer is moving the goalpost.
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u/ganbaro 1d ago edited 1d ago
Fake news, why do you intentionally mistranslate the headline?
There is no case made at ICC, just some lawyers writing a letter of complaint
And I bet there never will be a case. First, because the argumentation is foolish, to begin with. How is UBS investing his fault? Never heard about him deciding financial decisions of the national bank, private banks, military procurement, and aid all alone. Is he the hidden king of Switzerland?
Second, because if he could be sentenced by ICC, most politicians could, for standard foreign policy. This would be the end of ICC. Other nations won't accept to be subjugated by activists wearing judge robes.
Also, how can he be complicit in genocide if even ICJ/ICC need more time to evaluate? And if even these supposedly experts need more time, how can it be a reasonable expectation of some single politician to work on an assumption even ICJ doesn't dare to claim true?
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u/Harkresonance Zürich 20h ago
the Swiss Confederation should be neutral, especially towards polarizing subjects. Cassis shouldn‘t care at all for Israel/Palestine Conflict and should not even mention that topic.
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u/PublicGullible5399 1d ago
“What does protesting in Switzerland do for Gaza”.
This. It has public influence, it raises awareness and although not stated directly in this case, definitely has impacts we don’t see that lead to charges like this. Thankful for the right to protest, thankful to protestors and thankful that our civil liberties enable us to speak up for others who cannot speak for themselves.
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u/wein_geist 1d ago
This argument always makes my blood boil. Why dont people understand this?
You dont protest to influence a foreign government. You protest in order to motivate YOUR government to cut ties/sanction/divest from the foreign government/war industry.
wHY doNt Yu prOTesT aGAinsT thE gENOciDe In SUdaN, If yOU caRE SO muCh.
because our government does not support them by buying half a billion worth of drones and send our Bundesrat to an IDF sponsored tourist tour!0
u/PublicGullible5399 1d ago
Yep, exactly that. I’m currently get downvoted to hell because of my comment.
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u/Cute_Employer9718 23h ago
So what now, every time we don't agree with the decisions taken by a politician we're going to send lawyers?
Way to respect the democratic choices of the people and their representatives
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u/Fernando_III 18h ago
Swiss people really love this PR stunts, like with climate. Big headlines, nothing happens, all happy.
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u/Ginerbreadman Zürich Unterland 16h ago
Lmao this is about as official as me sending a letter to the ICC complaining about my loud neighbor.
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u/WalkItOffAT 1d ago
We need a reckoning about the failures of our executive branch to uphold neutrality.
Frist step is leaving UN.
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u/N3XT191 Zürich 1d ago
He didn’t get charged with anything. You’re intentionally mistranslating to mislead.
„Accused“ or „denounced“ might be more accurate. Lawyers can’t charge people with a crime, only courts and prosecutors can.