1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The support of Western, colonial states has been central to the Israeli regime’s ability to commit crimes and perpetuate the ongoing Nakba for over 77 years. Western, colonial states have poured billions into arming the Israeli regime and shielding it diplomatically, ensuring its continued impunity. Moreover, they have also protected and subsidized both the arms and technology companies providing the munitions used by the Israeli regime, and the media institutions manufacturing consent for Israeli crimes.  

Rather than abiding by their legal obligations under international law— including obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to stop, prevent, and refrain from being complicit in genocide—states have magnified their military and political support to the Israeli regime, specifically since October 2023.  

The contours of complicity in international crimes are defined through two categories: complicity as a violation of state responsibility under public international law (PIL); and, complicity grounded in the negative obligations of states under international humanitarian law (IHL). Accordingly, complicity results from commission, not omission. In other words, state complicity is a form of secondary liability where a state, through positive acts (e.g., aiding, assisting, encouraging, etc.), contributes to another state’s crimes and violations of international law.  

States’ complicity in the commission of Israeli crimes and violations in the Gaza Strip has two main forms: military and political.  

Complicity is proven by establishing a causal link between the crimes committed by the Israeli regime and the actions of secondary states, which fall into three main categories:  

1. the provision of military aid;