French NGOs file complaints against pro-Israel groups for complicity in Gaza genocide

12/03/2024 / By Richard Brown

A French organization and a French-Palestinian woman filed a complaint on Nov. 26 against the French managers of two pro-Israel NGOs, accusing them of “complicity in genocide and incitement to commit genocide in Gaza.”

The complaint targets the French nationals behind the groups Israel is Forever and Tzav-9, accusing them of obstructing humanitarian aid to Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which has killed more than 44,000 people in Gaza since October 2023.

The French Jewish Union for Peace and the Palestinian woman, who has 13 family members in Gaza, have filed the complaint alongside Urgence Palestine NGO. This legal action, presented to the crimes against humanity division of the Paris judicial court, is the first in France based on genocide allegations.

The 70-page complaint outlined the actions of French nationals blocking humanitarian aid, including preventing trucks from reaching Gaza’s border crossings controlled by Israel. They argued that these actions contribute to the total blockade of Gaza, a territory where Israel controls all borders and has imposed severe restrictions on aid. They also claimed that this deliberate obstruction of humanitarian relief, leading to starvation, amounts to genocide. (Related: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza, citing deliberate forced displacement of Palestinians.)

The plaintiffs further argued that French courts hold jurisdiction over the actions of French nationals involved in blocking aid to Gaza, which they asserted could be classified as complicity in genocide. To ensure the case proceeds, they have initiated a civil action, which typically leads to a judicial investigation in France.

A second complaint was filed on Nov. 27 by the Lawyers for Justice in the Near East and the Coordination of Calls for a Just Peace in the Near East-Europalestine, also accusing the same Israeli groups of blocking humanitarian aid. The organizations’ lawyers called on the French courts to investigate these actions under the charge of genocide.

UN, ICJ and ICC found Israel guilty of committing genocide and war crimes

This comes after the UN’s investigation in mid-November concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza fit the definition of genocide, citing the siege, blockages of aid, targeted killings of civilians and the use of starvation as a weapon. The UN committee described these actions as intentional acts leading to death, starvation and serious injury, to cause the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an order to Israel to take immediate measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza, including ensuring sufficient humanitarian aid and services. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State sanctioned Tzav 9, calling it a “violent extremist Israeli group” for its repeated efforts to block aid convoys to Gaza.

The French complaints also coincide with recent arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. These warrants accuse the Israeli officials of war crimes, including using starvation as a method of warfare and blocking humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The legal actions in France follow a broader trend of increasing scrutiny of Israeli actions in Gaza. However, the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a complaint against a French-Israeli soldier accused of torturing Palestinian prisoners, citing insufficient evidence. This decision was met with criticism from the NGOs involved, who argued that it reflected a political reluctance to investigate possible complicity in war crimes.

Legal experts argue that the ICC’s warrants against Israeli officials could be a turning point, potentially leading to greater accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza and increased pressure on countries like France to hold individuals accountable for genocide and war crimes.

Watch the video below where Polish MP Grzegorz Braun called Israel a “terrorist state” during a recent speech in the European Union Parliament.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.