Bring French nationals guilty of Israel army war crimes to justice: MP

A left-wing lawmaker has called for French nationals who have committed war crimes while serving in the Israeli military to be brought to justice.

Thomas Portes, a member of the National Assembly representing the France Unbowed (LFI) party, said last week that radio station Europe 1 had found 4,185 troops with French nationality were mobilised within the Israeli army on the Gaza front.

He sent a letter, bearing Monday's date, to Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, raising the issue of French citizens fighting for Israel.

"As the UN, through several of its special rapporteurs, highlights the genocidal risks and that 19,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, the participation of French nationals in these atrocities casts a shadow on France," he wrote.

"Similarly, since colonisation is recognised as a crime against humanity, any implication of French citizens must be scrupulously examined."

Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 20,000 people – the majority women and children.

"It is imperative that France examines the culpability of its nationals involved both in Gaza and the West Bank," Portes said.

"I therefore request your intervention, under your general powers of inquiry, for French nationals, including dual nationals, guilty of war crimes to be brought before French justice."

Israel has attacked places of worship, hospitals, ambulances, and residential buildings in Gaza.

Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 280 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 7 October, the date the Gaza war broke out.

More than 1,200 people have been displaced in the West Bank in the same period, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian said, adding that it came "amid settler violence and access restrictions".

Portes said in a post on social media platform X that he would also refer the issue of French nationals serving in the Israeli military on the Gaza front.

He separately posted a video of two masked men dressed in military gear with weapons who appeared to be taunting him.

In the footage, the first man said in French: "Thomas Portes, the LFI, thanks for your support."

The second said "Merry Christmas" in standard French, before using a slang term meaning "my brother" which comes from North African Arabic.

Depuis 96h des criminels de guerre Israéliens se mettent en scène avec des armes où est marqué mon nom.
Jamais nous ne baisserons les yeux face à eux.
Nous serons toujours aux côtés du peuple palestinien massacré par l’armée israélienne.
Nous serons toujours du côté de la paix. pic.twitter.com/Rvx9XgyHWs

— Thomas Portes (@Portes_Thomas) December 19, 2023

The men were each carrying a mortar shell with a message written on in black ink that was not fully visible.

The New Arab could not verify the authenticity of the footage or what the message on the explosives was. However, the writing on the shell held by the man on the right of the screen appeared to match the start of the word "Thomas".

Portes responded on Tuesday by saying that for 96 hours "Israeli war criminals have been staging themselves with weapons marked with my name".

"We will never bow our heads before them," he added.

"We will always stand by the Palestinian people massacred by the Israeli army. We will always be on the side of peace."