Paris imposes sanctions on extremist settlers amid the Gaza war
French deputies call for sanctions on Israel over the killing of a French employee in Gaza, indicating a tension in Franco-Israeli relations
France has decided to “take national measures against some extremist Israeli settlers,” said Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to reporters on Tuesday, while deputies called for sanctions on Israel for its violations in the Gaza war. Colonna, after returning from a tour that included Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon, explained, “I was able to witness firsthand the acts of violence committed by some extremist settlers,” adding, “It is unacceptable.” She continued, “France has decided to take national measures against some of these extremist settlers who have been classified in this way based on documented information.”
In early December, Paris stated that it was considering sanctions against some settlers, including a ban on entry into French territories and asset freezes, and called for similar measures at the European level. In early December, the United States imposed sanctions on dozens of settlers, preventing them from entering US territories. Acts of violence committed by settlers have increased since the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas inside Israeli territory on October 7, resulting in about 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians.
Around 250 hostages were taken to Gaza, with 129 still there, according to Israeli authorities. Israel responded with a widespread bombing campaign and ground assault on Gaza, causing massive destruction and 19,453 deaths, about 70% of them women and children, according to the Hamas government. In the occupied West Bank, more than 290 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
French deputies in Paris criticized Tel Aviv on Monday following the killing of an employee in the French Foreign Ministry during the shelling in Gaza, calling for sanctions on Israel. Prominent members of the French parliament accused their country’s government of failing to take necessary measures to protect its employee and his family. C
arlos Martinez Bilonog, a member of the left-wing “France Unbowed” party, said, “This act is a result of the recent escalation in the region, and unfortunately, more casualties are likely to occur.” Bilonog attributed the worsening situation in Gaza to France’s repeated confirmation of Israel’s right to self-defense, which Israel interprets as “unconditional support.”
Bilonog also called for imposing “sanctions on Israel and equal treatment for French citizens fighting alongside the Israeli Defense Forces.” Aurelien Tache, deputy of the “Val-d’Oise” department in the “Ile-de-France” region in northern France, said, “They are killing hostages and our employees, and above all, tens of thousands of women and children. How can France continue to support these criminals?” Sandrine Russo, another deputy from the European Green Party, said, “It is necessary to increase pressure on Israel.” Russo wondered, “What is their goal in Gaza? To destroy this area? Displace its residents? We cannot allow what is unfolding before our eyes to continue,” adding, “I think we need to explore the option of imposing sanctions on Israel.” Russo concluded by saying she does not remember “such a large number of journalists who lost their lives in such a short period during a previous conflict, all without any tangible results.”
On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called on Israel to clarify the circumstances of the killing of a French Foreign Ministry employee who succumbed to injuries from shelling that targeted a residential building in Rafah, southern Gaza, last Wednesday. Colonna said in a joint press conference with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv, “Since yesterday, and now I have repeated it to Eli Cohen, it is necessary to shed full light on the circumstances that can explain the targeting of this house, after the explosion that resulted in the death of at least this employee in our French institute.”
Late on Saturday, the French Foreign Ministry condemned the death of one of its employees, succumbing to injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on Rafah.
The ministry stated that “some employees sought refuge in the home of a colleague working in the French consulate, and the house was targeted by Israeli shelling on December 13.”
The ministry added that “France condemns the shelling of the residential building, which resulted in the deaths of about 10 other civilian victims.” Despite the killing of the French diplomat, Colonna reiterated her country’s support for “Israel’s right to self-defense” and said in the same press conference, “I am here to affirm France’s solidarity with the Israeli people.” While the French Foreign Ministry did not disclose the identity of its killed employee in Gaza, the “Le Figaro” newspaper reported that the victim’s name is Ahmed Abushama.
On the “X” platform, Elsa Faucillon, a deputy from the left-wing “New Anticapitalist Party,” said that Ahmed Abushama had been working in the Foreign Ministry for 23 years and had worked at the French Institute in Gaza.
She noted that France did not include the four sons of the deceased on the list of those “allowed to leave Gaza,” and Abushama chose to stay with them in Gaza for this reason.
Israel stated on Tuesday that it is awaiting details requested from Paris regarding the killing of the French employee.
The Israeli army said in a statement, “Through the initial examination, it can be confirmed that the Israeli army targeted a number of military targets on Wednesday, December 13, including Hamas activists and missile launchers in the Rafah area,” according to its expression. It claimed that “all strikes were carried out in accordance with international law and the required means to reduce harm to non-participating civilians.”
The Israeli army is aware of the allegations regarding the damage to an employee of the French Foreign Ministry,” it added, clarifying, “At the present time, the army has not received sufficient details to review the incident.”
The spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lior Haiat, confirmed on Monday that the French government had not yet provided detailed information about its killed employee in Gaza, and he said that Israel has asked for more information about the time and place of the bombing to conduct an investigation into the incident.
