Israel/Palestinian Territories - Q&A - Extract from the press briefing (28 May 2024)

Q: On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in Rafah. It also demanded an end to “any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” The court also ordered Israel to keep the Rafah crossing open to allow “unhindered” access to humanitarian aid. On Sunday night, new strikes left at least 30 dead in a Rafah tent camp, in an area the Israelis themselves had designated as safe. My question is a simple one: apart from statements and condemnations, what is France (along with its EU partners) doing in concrete terms to ensure the implementation of the orders issued by the ICJ, the UN’s highest court? Are immediate political and economic sanctions against Israel being contemplated to force it to abide by international law, as France did in the case of Russia? Is France leaning toward a suspension of EU cooperation agreements with Israel?

A: We refer you to President Macron’s statement yesterday on X.