Over 4,000 French Nationals Participating in Israel’s War on Palestinians

Rabat – It has come to light that over 4,000 French or dual nationals have been actively participating in Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

“Europe 1, one of the leading radio broadcasting stations in France, revealed that a total of 4,185 French or Franco-Israeli individuals were fighting alongside the Israeli army on the front in Gaza. This is the largest contingent after that of the US,” Thomas Portes, a lawmaker from the political party La France Insoumise (LFI), told Anadolu Agency (AA).

Portes has called for immediate criminal prosecutions against French nationals implicated in war crimes against Palestinians. He emphasized the urgency for France to condemn its citizens’ participation in Israel’s bloody war in Gaza and urged the justice minister to pursue legal action against those involved.

Portes argued that “colonization constitutes a crime against humanity,” highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability in Palestinian territories. He asserted that if the justice ministry fails to take prompt action, he reserves the right to report the matter to the Public Prosecutor of Paris.

These concerns have not been limited to the political realm. The Association France Palestine Solidarite (AFPS) issued a press release urging accountability for French nationals involved in war crimes against Palestinians.

Questions have also been raised about the responsibility of French settlers in war crimes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The revelation of French citizens actively participating in the Israeli army has sparked outrage within France. Reports in early December exposed this involvement, prompting public discussions and reflections on the implications of such participation.

Since the new cycle of violence began on October 7, there has been a staggering 430% increase in aliyah – Jewish immigration to Israel – applications from France, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Data from the Jewish Agency and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry indicated that over 1,200 aliyah files have been opened since then, compared to about 220 in the same period last year. Aliyah fairs, organized to provide information about immigration to Israel, have seen significant participation in France, reflecting a practical interest in relocating.

Amid Israeli’s ongoing aggression in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron has stressed his support for Israel and paid a visit to his Israel counterpart Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

“I am here to express our solidarity,” Macron said during a meeting with Herzog in late October, proposing that the coalition to fight the Islamic State (ISIS) should also start fighting against Hamas.

“France is ready for the international coalition against Daesh – in which we are taking part in operations in Iraq and Syria – to also fight against Hamas,” he added.

While Macron initially offered diplomatic support to Israel, he has since publicly criticized the Israeli military’s bombardment in Gaza and killing of innocent civilians, stating that there is “no justification for killing children.”

The French government’s stance on the conflict has witnessed shifts, including a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, later overturned by France’s highest judicial body.

France has also exuded pressure on foreign football players residing in the country, including Algerian player Youcef Attal, who is being tried for “inciting religious hatred” and “glorifying terrorism.”

Attal was notably suspended by his club Nice for sharing a video on his Instagram featuring Palestinian preacher Mahmoud Al Hasanat addressing the devastating situation in Gaza, and calling for a “dark day for the Jews.”

In addition, France’s Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin accused French-Algerian player Karim Benzema of having ties with the “Muslim Brotherhood” after he voiced his support for Palestine.

The Israeli offensive has taken a devastating toll on the Gaza Strip, resulting in substantial casualties. Health authorities in Gaza reported that nearly 20,000 Palestinians were killed, with over 52,000 others injured.

In addition, the devastating war has destroyed two-thirds of Gaza’s residential units, resulting in the displacement of nearly 2 million Palestinians amid shortages of food and clean water.

Israeli bombardment has destroyed the vast majority of Gaza’s hospitals and rendered them inoperational, crippling the region’s already weak health sector.