Re: Holding Itamar Ben-Gvir accountable during his visit to New York City, July 7–8, 2026
Dear Madam Attorney General Letitia James,
On July 7th and 8th of 2026, Itamar Ben-Gvir plans to visit New York City for the 5th UN Chiefs of Police Summit. He is a primary architect and driver of Israel's genocide in Gaza, the continued torture in Israeli prisons, and the illegal settlement of the West Bank. We implore you to use the powers of the New York State Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute him for his actions.
Since October 7th 2023, Israel has escalated their ongoing genocide against Palestinians. The Israeli military has used increasingly destructive means to lay waste to Gaza. The prison system continues to torture Palestinians, and settlement programs continue to dispossess the people of the West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir has accelerated these processes at every given opportunity.
Ben-Gvir is openly genocidal in his language and actions. He actively supports the destruction in Gaza by calling for the bombing of food and aid distribution centers, and he has repeatedly advocated for the forceful removal of Palestinians in Gaza from their land1,2. Ben-Gvir also campaigned for and celebrated the legalization of execution by hanging, a punishment that only applies to Palestinians held in Israeli prisons3. He openly advocates torture within this prison system, and the victims of this torture include US citizens and New York residents4. Ben-Gvir has advanced his genocidal goals through his capacity as Minister of National Security, and these words and deeds amount to war crimes and the crime of genocide5.
There is precedent for legal action against Itamar Ben-Gvir. Multiple governments including France, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, and the UK have banned his travel to their countries6. The UK has sanctioned him and frozen his assets7. Ben-Gvir has harmed New Yorkers before, and given his past genocidal statements and actions, it is likely that his time in New York will be used for criminal activity. The Honorable Letitia James, you are in a unique position to protect New York City. We ask that you use the full power of your office to pursue this war criminal.
Respectfully,
The undersigned