We are a coalition of international and Israeli professionals dedicated to formulating a comprehensive strategy aimed at assisting the State of Israel in navigating the international legal investigation pertaining to the events of October 7.

Our primary objective is to construct a robust case that advocates for the consideration and prosecution of these events as an act of genocide against Israel.

Read the Memorandum →

We are a coalition of international and Israeli professionals dedicated to formulating a comprehensive strategy aimed at assisting the State of Israel in navigating the international legal investigation pertaining to the events of October 7.

Our primary objective is to construct a robust case that advocates for the consideration and prosecution of these events as an act of genocide against Israel.

Read the Memorandum →

Problem statement

In November 2023, accusations of genocide against Israel skyrocketed. Over the past few weeks, the number of social media posts mentioning the words "Israel" and "genocide" has exceeded seven million. However, in addition to the space of social networks, the war is unfolding on two more fronts: among researchers and academics who are disseminating the myth of the "textbook case of genocide in Gaza," and among professional lawyers. A lawsuit has already been filed against Israel in the International Criminal Court. Human rights organizations regularly publish reports intended to serve as a basis for future legal charges, including the call for a special international tribunal (similar to the ICTY).

Why is it important?

These accusations should not be taken lightly, as another round of information war and strengthening of the usual anti-Israeli propaganda. Indeed, all previous attempts to accuse Israel of genocide were of a PR nature and did not have real legal consequences. But over the past 20 years, judicial precedents have appeared that expand the practice of applying the concepts of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" (e.g. "Jelisić Appeal Judgment" 2001). These precedents significantly reduce the requirements for proving the "genocidal intent".

Who are our opponents?

In addition to many Arab public organizations in Europe and the United States, groups of qualified lawyers with strong anti-Israeli positions are also preparing charges against Israel. The Center for Constitutional Rights published the first such report back on October 18, collecting a significant base of legal precedents on which prosecution should rely. CFR is just one such organization. Many pro-Palestinian researchers and scholars at American universities (for example, Raz Segal, who heads the Holocaust studies program at Stockton University) are supporting them and helping to prepare the charges.

Our tasks

We cannot prevent future accusations against Israel, but we can prepare for them. To do this, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive defense strategy that convincingly proves Israel’s innocence.
It is necessary now to prepare a preventive legal and public attack based on international law, applicable precedents, scientific researches and findings, with a demand for an international tribunal over everyone complicit in the attack on October 7 and following criminal actions (e.g. massive rocket attacks and tortures of hostages). This event must be recognized as an "act of genocide against the citizens of Israel and crime against humanity."

Who should do this?

Our initiative group, in addition to world-famous lawyers, includes sociological researchers from leading universities in the world, including specialists in genocide studies, and specialists in the field of international relations, cultural policy and PR. We have established an NGO that will be active in legal, civic, research and communication areas. Its mission would be the prosecution and international recognition of the genocide perpetrated by HAMAS on the legal, public, academic and political levels.

Core team

Victor Vakhshtayn
PhD, Professor of Sociology, Research Fellow at Ariel University
Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Russian-British University in Moscow for 12 years, former honorary professor of the University of Manchester, Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Sociology of Power", author of 5 books (including "Sociology in Judicial Precedents") and more than 100 publications.
Vadim Klyuvgant
PhD, lawyer in criminal law, including foreign and international aspects, and human rights
He led the defense in landmark international cases: the case
of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the case of Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, until her pardon in 2020. Represented the victims and community of a Moscow synagogue in a nationalist attack case, and succeeded in having the court recognize the attack as extremist, motivated by hatred of Jews.
Alex Zernopolsky
Advocate, human rights activist and successful litigators, made contributions to immigration law, advocating for justice and fairness in the legal system
In the past served as the head of committees for relations with the USSR and immigration matters. Has expertise in principled proceedings, in November 2023 in Dangaz, where he secured repatriation rights for widows of sons and grandchildren of a Jew in the Supreme Court of Jerusalem.
Alon Keysar
Political and PR specialist
Master’s degree in international relations. Former advisor to Prime Minister, minister of education and minister of interior of Israel. He has held senior positions in large international organizations.
Mark Novikov
PhD, Constitutional Law; Journalist
An expert in Israel and Jewish affairs with an academic background, including research at Reichman University and Ariel University. He spent years as an analyst at a leading Israeli high-tech company and served as a consultant for various Jewish non-profits. Founder of one of the largest Russian-speaking Jewish news blogs, reaching 125k followers with up to 1 million daily views.
Vitalii Novoselov
Journalist and presenter at Best Radio Israel
Master’s degree in history. Media manager, strategic communications and PR consultant, 20+ years experienced in public, political and business projects. Former head of PR at the All-Russian Civil Forum (until 2019)
Elena Zelentsova
PhD in Cultural Science, Director of City University Project in Rector’s Office, Ariel University
Her specialties are cultural policy, urban development, creative industries, arts, culture and communities. Implemented numerous projects supported by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and a number of foreign charitable foundations.

Victor Vakhshtayn

PhD, Professor of Sociology, Research Fellow at Ariel University in Samaria

Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Russian-British University in Moscow for 12 years, former honorary professor of the University of Manchester, Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Sociology of Power", author of 5 books (including "Sociology in Judicial Precedents") and more than 100 publications.

Vadim Klyuvgant

PhD, lawyer in criminal law, including foreign and international aspects, and human rights

He led the defense in landmark international cases: the case

of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the case of Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, until her pardon in 2020. Represented the victims and community of a Moscow synagogue in a nationalist attack case, and succeeded in having the court recognize the attack as extremist, motivated by hatred of Jews.

Alex Zernopolsky

Advocate, human rights activist and successful litigator, made contributions to immigration law, advocating for justice and fairness in the legal system

In the past served as the head of committees for relations with the USSR and immigration matters. Has expertise in principled proceedings, in November 2023 in Dangaz, where he secured repatriation rights for widows of sons and grandchildren of a Jew in the Supreme Court of Jerusalem.

Alon Keysar

Political and PR specialist

Master’s degree in international relations. Former advisor to Prime Minister, minister of education and minister of interior of Israel. He has held senior positions in large international organizations.

Mark Novikov

PhD, Constitutional Law; Journalist

An expert in Israel and Jewish affairs with an academic background, including research at Reichman University and Ariel University. He spent years as an analyst at a leading Israeli high-tech company and served as a consultant for various Jewish non-profits. Founder of one of the largest Russian-speaking Jewish news blogs, reaching 125k followers with up to 1 million daily views.

Vitalii Novoselov

Journalist and presenter at Best Radio Israel

Master’s degree in history. Media manager, strategic communications and PR consultant, 20+ years experienced in public, political and business projects. Former head of PR at the All-Russian Civil Forum (until 2019)

Elena Zelentsova

Director of City University Project in Rector’s Office, Ariel University

Her specialties are cultural policy, urban development, creative industries, arts, culture and communities. Implemented numerous projects supported by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and a number of foreign charitable foundations.