War Crimes Suspect Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, Sparking Global Outcry
Netanyahu's surprise gesture amid ongoing Gaza conflict triggers fierce criticism as online critics call it 'macabre circus'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize during a White House dinner on Monday, July 8, 2025, presenting him with an official letter to the Nobel Committee despite both leaders facing intense criticism over their roles in ongoing Middle East conflicts. The nomination comes as Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed over 57,000 Palestinians since October 2023, and while Netanyahu faces International Criminal Court arrest warrants for alleged war crimes.
The surprise announcement at the White House has ignited a firestorm of criticism across social media platforms, with users describing the move as "beyond parody" and a "macabre circus" given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and both leaders' controversial records on peace.
The Controversial Nomination
During their dinner meeting in the White House Blue Room, Netanyahu rose to present Trump with what he described as a nomination letter already sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. "He's forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other," Netanyahu declared as he handed over the letter, according to multiple news outlets.
"It's well deserved, and you should get it"
Netanyahu told Trump during the ceremony, praising his "steadfast and exceptional dedication to promoting peace, security, and stability around the world," according to The Times of Israel.
Trump appeared visibly surprised by the gesture, responding: "Thank you very much. This I did not know. Wow, thank you very much. Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful," as reported by India TV News.
The nomination specifically cited Trump's role in brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco during his first presidency.
A Nomination Amid War Crimes Allegations
The timing of Netanyahu's nomination has drawn particular scrutiny given his current legal troubles. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing "reasonable grounds" to believe they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The ICC specifically accused the Israeli leaders of "intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival," including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity. The court found evidence of actions that "created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration".
These charges stem from Israel's military response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which has devastated Gaza's infrastructure and displaced nearly 2 million people. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 57,523 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with 96% of the population facing acute food insecurity.
A Long-Held Desire
Trump's desire for a Nobel Peace Prize has been well-documented throughout his political career. The former and current president has repeatedly expressed frustration at being "overlooked" by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, particularly in comparison to former President Barack Obama.
"I was more deserving of a Nobel than ex-president Barack Obama, and complained how it was unfair that 'anybody else' but him would have been honoured with one"
Trump stated in 2024, according to Dawn.
The president has previously claimed credit for mediating conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo. Most recently, he has highlighted truces his administration brokered between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran.
In his nomination letter, Netanyahu specifically praised the Abraham Accords as "foremost" among Trump's achievements in creating peace, describing them as representing "innovative diplomacy defined not by conflict and extremism but by cooperation, dialogue, and shared prosperity".
The Abraham Accords
The Abraham Accords, signed at the White House on September 15, 2020, represented a significant diplomatic breakthrough in Middle Eastern relations. The agreements normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and later Morocco, with Sudan also beginning a normalization process.
At the original signing ceremony, Trump declared: "We're here this afternoon to change the course of history. After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East". Netanyahu called the ceremony a "pivot of history" and heralded a "new dawn of peace".
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that the accords served dual purposes for the United States: "solidifying the U.S. role as regional security guarantor while bypassing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" and countering "China's rising regional influence, particularly in advanced technologies".
However, the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent Gaza war have largely stalled efforts to expand the accords, particularly regarding potential Saudi Arabian participation.
Social Media Eruption
The nomination announcement triggered immediate and fierce criticism across social media platforms, with users expressing disbelief and outrage at what many characterized as a grotesque display.
"A wanted war criminal is nominating the convicted felon for the Nobel Peace Prize!? Grotesque is the only word to describe it"
one user wrote, according to Dawn's reporting on social media reactions.
The criticism intensified with users drawing historical parallels to highlight the perceived absurdity of the situation. "Netanyahu nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is like Benito Mussolini nominating Adolf Hitler for a Lifetime Achievement in Human Rights," one post read, as reported by Dawn.
Other users pointed to the contradiction between the peace prize nomination and ongoing military actions. "Netanyahu says he's nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, then Trump says he's sending more weapons to Ukraine. Lol," one user quipped.
Military Action as 'Peacemaking'
The nomination comes in the context of recent joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran's nuclear facilities. Just two weeks before the White House dinner, Trump ordered U.S. forces to deploy "bunker-buster" bombs and launch Tomahawk missiles on three Iranian nuclear sites.
During the dinner, Trump indicated readiness for further military action against Iran if necessary, stating: "They want to make peace, and I'm all for it. If that's not the case, we are ready, willing and able, but I don't think we're going to have to," according to Deutsche Welle.
The leaders celebrated what they described as the "total success" of their joint military operations, with Netanyahu using these actions as part of his justification for the peace prize nomination.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced that nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran would resume "in the next week or so," representing the first diplomatic engagement since the recent military escalation.
Gaza Crisis
The nomination occurs against the backdrop of what many international observers describe as a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The territory has been under Israeli military assault for over 21 months, with infrastructure destroyed and basic services severely limited.
Recent reports indicate that 69% of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed, with 545,355 displaced Palestinians attempting to return to northern Gaza only to find their homes reduced to rubble. The UN reports that families are "sleeping in the open during winter storms" as aid organisations struggle to provide adequate shelter.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society has distributed 1.6 million relief items since the war began, but aid workers warn that reconstruction could take 15 years.
International Legal Ramifications
The nomination has raised questions about the Nobel Committee's evaluation process, particularly given the legal challenges facing both leaders. While Netanyahu faces ICC arrest warrants, Trump's own legal troubles include multiple criminal indictments.
The Dearborn, Michigan mayor Abdullah Hammoud has declared that his city would arrest Netanyahu if he entered city limits, stating: "Dearborn will arrest Netanyahu & Gallant if they step within Dearborn city limits". This represents growing international pressure on countries to enforce ICC warrants.
The ICC's jurisdiction extends to 123 member countries, though the United States is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and is therefore not obligated to comply with ICC warrants.
Digital Age Diplomacy
The incident highlights the intersection of traditional diplomacy and modern digital discourse, where major international announcements are immediately subject to global scrutiny and criticism through social media platforms.
The speed and intensity of online reactions demonstrate how digital platforms have transformed public engagement with international affairs, allowing for immediate global commentary on diplomatic developments that would have previously been discussed primarily in elite circles.
Implications for Middle East Peace
The nomination and its aftermath raise broader questions about the future of Middle East peace efforts and the role of international recognition in validating controversial political actions. The Abraham Accords, while significant, have been overshadowed by the ongoing Gaza conflict and the failure to address Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
As diplomatic efforts continue regarding both Gaza ceasefire negotiations and Iran nuclear talks, the international community will be watching to see whether the leaders' claims of "forging peace" translate into meaningful progress toward regional stability.
The Nobel Committee's eventual decision on Trump's nomination will likely reflect broader international assessments of his administration's foreign policy achievements and their long-term impact on global peace and security.
The controversy surrounding Netanyahu's nomination ultimately underscores the complex relationship between military action, diplomatic achievement, and international recognition in an increasingly interconnected world where the boundaries between war and peace, victory and defeat, remain perpetually contested in the court of global public opinion.