Israeli minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir cancels New York UN police summit visit amid legal threats

Israel’s far‑right national security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir called off a planned trip to New York, where he was to attend a United Nations police chiefs summit on 7‑8 July. Israeli security officials cited concerns that human‑rights groups – notably the Hind Rajab/Foundation and the Belgium‑based Hind Receb Foundation – were pressing U.S. federal and state prosecutors to launch criminal investigations into Ben‑Gvir for alleged war crimes, torture, forced displacement and other abuses against Palestinians. The groups also urged the New York Attorney‑General to open a probe, raising the risk of protests and possible arrest.

The cancellation follows a second U.S. trip this month that was aborted after visa difficulties and similar activist pressure. European countries such as France, Italy and Spain have already imposed travel bans or called for sanctions against Ben‑Gvir, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for other Israeli officials over Gaza‑related crimes. Israeli officials said the decision was driven by internal security assessments of the likely demonstrations and legal exposure in the United States.