Dragan Šutanovac, Ambassador of Serbia to the United States, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 10, 2025. The public was informed about the meeting through the embassy’s and the ambassador’s accounts on Instagram and X, stating that the conversation was “cordial and open,” and that “the traditionally friendly relations between Serbia and Israel were confirmed, as well as mutual commitment to their further strengthening in the political, economic, and security spheres.”

Civil society organizations remind the public that the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on suspicion of responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. We also underline that the Republic of Serbia signed and ratified the Rome Statute in 2009, thereby assuming the obligation to act on the orders of that court.

Šutanovac’s meeting with Netanyahu comes shortly after the visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia to Israel, during which she stated that “Israel will never forget what Serbia did for that country since October 7, 2023,” while Israeli officials expressed gratitude for the support provided. Today, the conference “Belgrade Strategic Dialogue – Partnership of Serbia, Israel, and the USA” is also being held in the National Assembly of Serbia.

This partnership and declared support are also reflected in the continued export of weapons to Israel, despite warnings from United Nations experts that such practice may constitute a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as pose the risk of complicity in crimes, including genocide.

According to data obtained by the weekly Radar (Issue 70, July 10, 2025), arms exports from Serbia to Israel have increased by 1,778 percent over the past 21 months compared to the same period before October 7, 2023. The President of Serbia publicly commented on the export of ammunition to Israel in a statement to The Jerusalem Post, describing it as a success.

Given that Serbia was declared responsible by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its 2007 judgment for violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the state should approach this matter with particular care. Its actions must align with international law, the obligations it has undertaken, and domestic legislation.

The export of weapons to Israel and continued cooperation with the regime of Benjamin Netanyahu—despite extensive evidence and the ICJ’s position that the risk of genocide in Gaza is “real and imminent“—make Serbia complicit in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

 

Humanitarian Law Center
Youth Initiative for Human Rights
Autonomous Women’s Center
CK13 Youth Center
A11* Initiative for Economic and Social Rights
Women in Black
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
Vojvodina Civic Centre