Slovenia Bars Israeli PM Netanyahu Over Gaza War Crimes

Slovenia has declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persona non grata, barring him from entering the country due to ongoing international legal proceedings accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel's military actions in Gaza. This unprecedented step by an EU member state follows similar measures taken against Israeli far-right ministers and an arms embargo imposed on Israel by Slovenia. Slovenian officials cited rulings from the International Court of Justice and findings from a UN Human Rights Council inquiry that describe Israel's conduct in Gaza as genocidal, emphasizing Slovenia's commitment to international law and human rights. The government clarified that this measure targets the Israeli government and not the Israeli people, calling for respect for international court decisions and humanitarian law. Slovenia has also recognized the state of Palestine and banned imports from the occupied Palestinian territories, aligning itself with European countries critical of Israel's Gaza operations. These actions underscore Slovenia's principled foreign policy stance amid the ongoing conflict.