Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Crimes Against Humanity in the Twelve-Day Iran–Israel War: An Integrative Approach Between International Law and Criminology

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mahdi vahdattaher 1
saeed ekradi 2
1 PhD student in criminal law and criminology, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Allameh Tabataba'i, tehran, iran
2 PhD in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
10.22034/jclc.2026.2079975.1298
Abstract
this research was conducted with the purpose of examining the twelve-day war initiated by Israel against Iran from the perspective of international criminal law and international criminology. The study places its central emphasis on the legal analysis of the attacks in light of Article 7 of the Rome Statute, while also seeking to explain the reasons for their occurrence through the application of both classical and modern criminological theories. The methodology of the research was organized around three complementary dimensions. First, the analysis of the three constitutive elements of crimes against humanity—namely the material, mental, and contextual elements—based on official data, eyewitness accounts, and international reports. Second, the investigation of the personality traits of Israel’s political leaders, carried out through psychological approaches and discourse analysis of their security-oriented statements and behaviors. Third, the comparison of Israel’s actions with criminological theories, including techniques of neutralization, rational choice theory, differential association, conflict theory, strain theory, state crime, and peace-oriented criminology. The findings demonstrate that Israel’s attacks can be aligned with the criteria of Article 7 of the Rome Statute. The widespread destruction and civilian casualties fulfill the material element; the awareness and deliberate intent of the leaders establish the mental element; and the connection of the attacks with the broader national security policy of the state satisfies the contextual element. From a criminological perspective, the personal characteristics of Prime Minister Netanyahu, combined with a culture of securitization and global power asymmetry, created conditions conducive to the choice of violence. Each criminological theory explains a different aspect of this behavior, and together they provide a comprehensive picture of the interaction between individual, structural, and ideological factors. The conclusion of the study is that even short-term conflicts may qualify as crimes against humanity. Their analysis requires an integrated approach that combines international law, criminology, and political psychology. Such a multidisciplinary perspective can enrich the literature of international criminology and contribute to the design of more effective mechanisms for holding political leaders accountable.
Keywords
Authoritarianism
Crimes Against Humanity
International Criminology
International Criminal Law
Psychology
Cycle of Violence

Subjects

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Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 January 2026