Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich cancels Paris visit: A missed opportunity for the fight against impunity

FIDH, Al-Haq, Al Mezan, PCHR and LDH had prepared a complaint that would have been lodged as soon as Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrived in France, where he was due to attend a gala organised by an association close to the Israeli far right. However, Bezalel Smotrich apparently preferred to cancel his visit, according to the Prefect of Paris, Laurent Nuñez. Beyond questions about the reasons for this cancellation, possibly linked to fear of legal action, this missed opportunity to call for Bezalel Smotrich’s arrest in France should not obscure the importance of the fight against impunity for the crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.

Paris, 12 November 2024. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) were ready to file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the French War Crimes Unit against Bezalel Smotrich for complicity in torture. The Israeli Minister’s presence was expected in France, where he planned to attend the gala organised in Paris by the association "Israel is Forever", known for its links with the Israeli far-right and settler movements.

The crime of torture —the sole legal basis for filing a complaint under the universal jurisdiction mechanism against a suspect present in France— reflects every aspect of the daily life for the population of Gaza, who have been the victims of Israel’s genocidal campaign since 7 October 2023.

Since 7 October 2023, Israel has deliberately conducted relentless bombardments and attacks from land, air, and sea, enforced mass displacements, and systematically deprived 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza of medical care, humanitarian aid, and food leading to starvation —all of which constitute acts of collective torture. The complaint also described a persistent pattern in which thousands of Palestinians have been abducted from Gaza and placed in Israeli prisons and military detention camps, where they have been subjected to systematic and well-documented acts of torture. Finally, it called on the French judiciary to open a judicial inquiry and immediately arrest Bezalel Smotrich for complicity in torture.

"Israeli leaders must realise that the time for justice and accountability has come, and that they will not eternally be shielded from legal proceedings aimed at shedding light on their responsibilities for the crimes perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza", declared the organisations. "Justice and the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and enforced disappearances committed in Gaza must be at the center of the response to Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people. Judicial investigations must be opened wherever possible."