A French legislator has called for a thorough investigation into over 4,000 citizens participating alongside the Israeli army in Palestinian territories, citing potential “war crimes.”
Thomas Portes, representing the La France Insoumise [LFI] party, recently disclosed his action in addressing Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti.
He urged an inquiry into the conduct of 4,185 French-origin soldiers involved with the Israeli army in Gaza, emphasizing the need for French justice to examine and hold accountable any individuals found guilty of war crimes.
This push aligns with French President Emmanuel Macron’s plea to Israel, cautioning against widespread devastation in Gaza and the indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Portes emphasized that any involvement of French citizens in such offenses is unacceptable, particularly in light of reported war crimes committed by the Israeli army in Gaza and the West Bank.
Portes cited Europe 1, a prominent French radio station, which disclosed the substantial presence of French or Franco-Israeli individuals among the Israeli army’s ranks in Gaza, constituting one of the largest foreign contingents after the US.
This concern echoes sentiments expressed by various organizations, including the Association France Palestine Solidarite [AFPS], which has stressed the imperative of holding accountable any French nationals implicated in war crimes.
AFPS has also questioned the role of French illegal settlers in war crimes within the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, advocating for accountability should any French citizens be involved in mistreatment of the Palestinian population.
Recent reports from French news outlets in early December further highlighted the participation of numerous French citizens in the Israeli army.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
