A coalition of 11 non-governmental organisations, including the Ligue de Droit de l’Homme (LDH) and the French Palestinian Solidarity Association (AFPS), has called on France to enforce International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, reports Al Jazeera.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NGOs emphasised the necessity for France to act should the accused officials enter French territory. They also urged continued support for the ICC amidst external pressures, asserting that the warrants highlight the urgent need for sanctions on Israeli authorities.
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin addressed the issue during an interview with French LCI television. Responding to whether France would enforce the warrants if Netanyahu visited, de Villepin noted France’s prior commitment through ex-Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, who affirmed that France would honour ICC decisions.
The ICC’s warrants, announced on Thursday, accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of “war crimes and crimes against humanity” during Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. Since the offensive began following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, over 44,000 Palestinians – primarily women and children – have been killed. The conflict has displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population, with the blockade resulting in critical shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies.
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine described the warrants as “legally complex” and refrained from committing to their enforcement. A subsequent ministry statement clarified that the warrants represent accusations, not a trial verdict.
The NGOs’ plea comes amid escalating humanitarian concerns in Gaza, where the population faces a severe crisis on the brink of starvation.
