French judicial authorities have issued warrants for two Franco-Israeli activists accused of trying to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, with investigators examining whether the actions could amount to complicity in genocide.
The warrants, issued in July last year, target Nili Kupfer-Naouri, linked to Israel is Forever, a pro-Israel advocacy group, and Rachel Touitou, associated with Tsav 9, an activist group opposing the delivery of aid to Gaza.
They require both women to appear before an investigating magistrate but do not order their arrest.
Lawyers for the non-governmental organisations that filed the complaint said the case is the first time a national legal system has examined whether blocking humanitarian aid could qualify as complicity in genocide under international law.
The allegations relate to actions said to have taken place between January and November 2024, including a specific incident in May.
Investigators believe the two activists tried to block aid trucks heading to Gaza at the Nitzana and Kerem Shalom crossings, which are key entry points for humanitarian supplies.
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Legal threshold tested
The warrants followed complaints filed by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights along with rights groups Al-Haq and Al-Mezan.
Their lawyer, Clémence Bectarte, said the investigation is unprecedented in genocide law and argued that deliberately preventing aid from reaching civilians in a war zone could meet the legal threshold for criminal responsibility.
In addition to the main allegation of complicity in genocide, both activists are also suspected of public provocation to commit genocide after allegedly calling for aid to be stopped from entering Gaza.
Investigators may expand the case, with warrants potentially issued for around 10 other individuals.
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Accused deny wrongdoing
Lawyers for the two activists reject the accusations and say their actions have been misrepresented.
Olivier Pardo, who represents Kupfer-Naouri, said she took part in pacifist protests against what she believes is the diversion and resale of humanitarian aid by Hamas and other groups.
Kupfer-Naouri has described the investigation as “anti-semitic madness.” She is currently in Israel and has said she is ready to speak to French investigators.
Touitou has also denied the allegations, writing on social media that peacefully protesting against a terrorist organisation’s handling of aid should not be criminalised.
The case is part of a wider series of legal actions in France linked to the Gaza war.
These include complaints over alleged war crimes and over the Hamas attack that triggered the conflict on 7 October 2023.
(with newswires)
