Accusations against Israel of ‘genocide’: it will be up to the court to ‘decide’, recalls France

AA / Paris / Ümit Dönmez

France recalled that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will “judge” the genocide charges brought against Israel.

At a press conference this Thursday, Deputy French Diplomatic Representative Christophe Lemoine was asked by Anadolu (AA) about France’s position on the genocide allegations against Israel, as well as the Quai d’Orsay’s past statements on the subject. .

AA recalled the Quai d’Orsay’s recent response to a journalist’s question, particularly regarding the report submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, in which the latter states “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israel has committed several “genocides” in the Gaza Strip [*].

Regarding the qualification of genocide, the Quai d’Orsay referred to past declarations, one of which was that “to accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,” as Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne said in January.

Anadolu correspondent Christophe Lemoine questioned the logic and consistency of this position. “How does the fact that the Jewish people were victims of genocide preclude the fact that the far-right Israeli government can commit another genocide?” he asked.

In addition, Anadolu also questioned the lack of sanctions against Israel despite its bombing of the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv’s non-compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, raising concerns about the body’s credibility.

– ICJ decision and UN resolution

“Regarding the genocide, you remembered our different positions. I repeat once more. Today, the International Court of Justice was seized by South Africa’s initiative, and it will be up to him to decide what issue to put you on, because the appeal specifically concerns the issue of the Convention on the Repression of Genocide,” the deputy spokesperson of the Quai d’Orsay recalled first.

Christophe Lemoine also recalled “France’s demands for respect for international humanitarian law” and highlighted the role of UN Resolution 2728, which requires an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages and respect for international humanitarian law by all parties.

“In this context, we always remain demanding of the Israelis. I am referring to the last address of the President of the Republic. [Emmanuel Macron] with [le premier ministre israélien] Benjamin Netanyahu, who was present no later than last weekend, where the President of the Republic reminded Benjamin Netanyahu of these obligations, especially in terms of international law and international humanitarian law,” added Lemoine, specifying that “the text that was voted for corresponds to what we have been asking for many months.” and that France was “delighted” by its acceptance by the UN Security Council.

“We call for the implementation of this resolution, in all its aspects,” he emphasized, adding that “the resolution of the UN Security Council is binding in international law. It refers to all parties concerned to use it and especially to Israel. , which is responsible for the implementation of this resolution.

“And the implementation of the provisions of the UN Council resolution, within this framework, is going in the right direction, because once again, the ceasefire is absolutely necessary to protect the civilian population and to deliver massive humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.” , but it is also necessary for the release of all the hostages”, – concluded the Deputy Spokesman of French Diplomacy, Christophe Lemoine.

– Humanitarian situation in Gaza

From October 2023, the Israeli army will bomb the Gaza Strip. The war in Tel Aviv has killed more than 32,500 Palestinians, most of them children and women, and injured more than 74,900 others, according to the latest reports released by the Gaza Ministry of Health.

For the first time since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel is being tried for the crime of genocide before the UN’s highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for the killings in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ’s January ruling ordered Tel Aviv to prevent acts that could be considered genocide and to take measures to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

According to UN organizations, this attack has caused a humanitarian disaster, massive destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, famine that is now ravaging many regions of the Palestinian enclave, as well as a serious health disaster.

Israel’s indiscriminate bombing also caused widespread destruction and shortages of basic necessities. These attacks forced 85% of the population of the Palestinian enclave to move inland, especially in the town of Rafah, south of the territory, which was threatened with a major attack by the Prime Minister himself, Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Also read:

* “UN report on acts of genocide in Gaza: Quai d’Orsay questions rapporteur instead of report”, Anadolu, 27 March 2024.

https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/monde/rapport-pour-lonu-sur-des-actes-de-g%C3%A9nocide-%C3%A0-gaza-le-quai-dorsay-sinterrogation -on-the-rapporteur-in-place-of-the-report/3176768#:~:text=La%20Diplomacy%20fran%C3%A7aise%20a%20%C3%A9mis,in%20the%20bande%20of% 20 Gaza.