PARIS (Dispatches) -- French lawyers have submitted a formal request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) demanding an investigation into senior French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron, for their complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. 
This bold move exposes a stark contradiction: while Macron and other Western leaders have recently voiced criticism of Israel’s military actions, behind the scenes their governments continue to provide unwavering political, military, and economic support to Tel Aviv, effectively enabling ongoing atrocities.
In a detailed 56-page communication revealed by the investigative outlet Blast, 114 French lawyers accuse Macron, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, and 19 members of the National Assembly’s European Affairs Committee of facilitating Israel’s criminal conduct. 
The complaint alleges that these officials, despite public condemnation, have actively supported Israel’s occupation and violent campaigns against Palestinians, violating international law and their own commitments under the Rome Statute.
The ICC communication highlights how the French government’s continued arms deliveries and diplomatic backing embolden Israel’s forces to persist in what many now describe as a genocidal assault on Gaza. 
The lawyers note that French officials’ support is not passive or incidental; rather, it “has had a substantial effect on the commission of the crimes in question.” By supplying weapons, political cover, and economic cooperation, France is implicated as an accomplice aiding and abetting Israel’s deadly actions.
This charge is underscored by evidence that French authorities have full knowledge of the consequences of their conduct, satisfying the legal standard of mens rea—guilty intent or recklessness—required for complicity. 
The complaint details how Israeli leaders’ public threats and incitements to violence against Palestinians have been met not with decisive sanctions or withdrawal of support, but with silence, rationalizations, or even endorsements by French officials.
For example, Prime Minister Bayrou’s statement in May defending Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza as a justified response to the October 7 attacks effectively endorses the harsh tactics and civilian toll inflicted by the Israeli military. This “explicit support,” according to the lawyers, signals a troubling alignment with Israel’s narrative and military objectives, despite widespread international condemnation.
Furthermore, the lawyers accuse France of violating the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which it ratified in 2013 and which prohibits exporting weapons to countries where they might be used to commit war crimes. 
Reports reveal that since October 2023, France has continuously delivered millions of dollars worth of bombs, grenades, missiles, and military equipment to Israel—contradicting French claims of neutrality or concern for Palestinian suffering.
Behind the façade of diplomatic statements critical of Israel, French officials appear to prioritize geopolitical alliances and strategic interests over human rights and international law. This duplicity not only undermines France’s credibility on the global stage but also perpetuates the cycle of violence and dispossession faced by Palestinians.
The complaint further exposes the role of powerful lobbying groups such as ELNET, which have allegedly influenced French lawmakers through fully funded trips and perks, shaping policies favorable to Israel. This network’s impact raises troubling questions about transparency and the true motivations behind France’s unwavering support for an occupying power committing egregious crimes.
The lawyers warn that accountability must extend beyond the direct perpetrators to those who enable and facilitate these crimes through political and material support. They stress that justice for Palestinian victims requires investigating French officials’ actions as complicity, as these actions allow Israel’s crimes to continue “on such a serious, widespread and prolonged basis.”
This call for accountability comes as the humanitarian toll in Gaza spirals. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians—predominantly civilians—have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. A brutal Israeli siege has compounded the devastation, triggering famine and shortages of essential supplies, leading many human rights organizations and countries including Ireland and Spain to characterize the war as genocide.
Yet, despite this catastrophic situation,