Three Australian and Palestinian legal organisations have urged the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate Israeli President Isaac Herzog over alleged war crimes ahead of a reported visit to Australia next month.

In a statement on Friday, the groups said they had written to the AFP to “urgently alert” it to what they described as “serious and credible criminal allegations of incitement to genocide and advocating genocide” linked to Herzog’s comments during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ), Al-Haq and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights submitted a 10-page document outlining the accusations, as well as Australia’s obligations under international and domestic law.

“Where credible international findings indicate incitement to genocide and where domestic accountability has not occurred, Australia has both the legal authority and responsibility to act,” said ACIJ executive director Rawan Arraf.

Arraf added that allowing Herzog to enter Australia without an AFP investigation would show a “blatant disregard” for Australia’s international legal commitments.

Al-Haq’s general director, Shawan Jabarin, cited Herzog’s past remarks about civilians in Gaza and said Israel’s actions had resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of children and infants, as well as the destruction of an IVF clinic that he said housed thousands of embryos.

According to The Times of Israel, Herzog is expected to visit Sydney on February 7 at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following last month’s deadly shooting at a Jewish gathering in Bondi Beach.

Albanese said in December that the invitation was extended so Herzog could “honour and remember victims of the Bondi anti-Semitic terrorist attack and provide support for Jewish Australians and the Australian Jewish community at this time.”

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