Activists filed criminal charges against a German politician for suspected incitement of hate and denial of war crimes in Israel’s war in Gaza.

The charges against Volker Beck, a former MP and head of the German-Israeli Society, were brought by Palestinian solidarity groups Palestine Speaks and Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East.

“This is the first step in holding public figures who publicly make genocidal statements legally accountable,” a statement on Instagram said, according to Al Jazeera.