Bring Netanyahu to Justice
Dear Governor Wes Moore & Attorney General Anthony Brown,
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting an ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign, bombing multiple countries across the Middle East, and advocating an openly fascist ideology. Netanyahu is now coming to Maryland and Washington, D.C. for his seventh visit during President Trump’s second term to continue his advocacy for war and ethnic cleansing.1 We implore you to use the powers of the Maryland Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute Benjamin Netanyahu for his crimes.
Netanyahu has already been investigated by the International Criminal Court, which issued a warrant for his arrest and found reasonable grounds to believe he is criminally responsible both as a co-perpetrator of several crimes and as a civilian superior for the war crime of intentionally targeting civilian populations.2 This includes the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare. For these acts, 15 countries have committed to arresting him. Residents of Maryland3 and across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area4 more broadly have been victims of his rhetoric and ongoing genocidal campaign. It is the responsibility of the Governor and the Attorney General to defend the Maryland residents who have been subjected to violence by Netanyahu’s crusades and to hold the perpetrator accountable for his criminal acts.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has escalated its ongoing genocide against Palestinians, murdering over 70,000 people5. The Israeli military, under the direction of Netanyahu, has used increasingly destructive means to lay waste to Gaza. Israel has decimated the healthcare system in Gaza with 735 attacks on healthcare facilities as of June 20256. 90% of schools and universities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks7. The Israeli prison system continues to torture Palestinians, with almost 10,000 Palestinians abducted and detained by Israel as of December 20258 and at least 98 Palestinians killed in Israeli custody between October 2023 and November 20259. Israel’s attacks also violate international law in the West Bank, where Israel has detained hundreds of Palestinians and continuously expanded its illegal settlements10 which dispossesses the people of the West Bank of their homeland.
Netanyahu has, at every turn, disregarded and disrespected international law, norms, and treaties, and continues to be a driving force escalating the genocide against Palestinians. He has put together a cabinet that openly dehumanizes Palestinians. His former Defense Minister referred to Palestinians as “human animals.”11 Throughout his time as Prime Minister, he has overseen the greatest loss of Palestinian lives in history. The Israeli government’s actions, led and directed by Netanyahu, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity12. Governor Moore, you yourself have said the same and called Netanyahu a criminal guilty of committing war crimes13. In his six previous visits since the start of President Trump’s second term, Netanyahu’s time in Washington has directly preceded an increase in Israel’s aggression and expansion across the region.14
There is precedent for charging international war criminals in the United States for crimes against American citizens abroad.15 The Office of the Attorney General is uniquely situated to investigate and prosecute Netanyahu to protect the people of Maryland and prevent further suffering. Governor Wes Moore, we are asking you to call on the Office of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute Netanyahu to protect the people of Maryland and prevent further suffering. Attorney General Anthony Brown, we ask that you use the full power of your office to enforce the rule of law that you are sworn to uphold.
Respectfully,
The undersigned
- Al Jazeera - Netanyahu may visit US (4 July 2926)
- International Criminal Court - Issuance of Arrest Warrants (21 November 2024)
- DC News Now - DMV Calls for a Free Palestine (10 October 2023)
- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on Facebook (20 May 2026)
- PBS — Palestinian Death Toll Surpasses 70,000 (29 November 2025)
- UN OHCHR — Experts Appalled by Relentless Israeli Attacks on Gaza’s Healthcare System (8 August 2025)
- UN News - Israeli Settlements in the West Bank (10 June 2025)
- B'Tselem - Statistics on Palestinians in Israeli Custody (29 March 2025)
- The Guardian - Palestinian Deaths in Israeli Custody (17 November 2025)
- Democracy Now - Netanyahu Approves New West Bank Settlements (12 September 2025)
- The Times of Israel - Defense Minister Announces Complete Siege of Gaza (9 October 2023)
- UN General Assembly - Resolution on Israeli Settlements (11 September 2024)
- Politico - Wes Moore sits down with Jonathan Martin on Politico's On the Road to discuss redistricting, Netanyahu, and 2028 (19 May 2026)
- Al Jazeera - What Happens When Netanyahu Visits Trump? (10 February 2026)
- US Department of Justice - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announcing Four Russia-Affliated Military Personnel Charged with War Crimes in Connection with Russia's Invasion of Ukraine