French Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti threatened seven years in prison for anyone who sympathizes with “what Israel is being subjected to by supporting Hamas or declaring its support” for Palestine, during a meeting of the French government on Wednesday, while Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin prohibited all pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the French Republic.
Darmanin had ordered a ban on “pro-Palestinian demonstrations” on Tuesday, claiming they might lead to “public order disturbances,” adding that “organizing these prohibited demonstrations could lead to arrests,” confirming the threat of Dupond-Moretti. France has not similarly banned pro-Israel protests.
On Tuesday, French police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse protestors who flocked to the streets in solidarity with Palestinians.
“Palestine will live, Palestine will survive,” “Israel murderer,” chanted the mostly young demonstrators, sometimes carrying Palestinian flags in several French cities.
Police officers and commissioners tweeted that the rallies were “wild,” and protestors had damaged public infrastructure.
Dupond-Moretti asserted that showing support for a “terrorist group” or apologizing for “terrorism” is a “crime.”
He added whoever calls on people to ”speak positively” about Hamas or “Islamic Jihad,” will face a sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. “If they post such speech on social media, they will be imprisoned not only for 5 years, but for 7 years,” he threatened.
Moretti said that recommending that the government have a dialogue with Hamas and its representatives is “like asking the French government to sit with ISIS” at the same table.
French President Emanuel Macron said that France stands with Israel in its war with Hamas, and called for “unity” in France.
Macron stated that 13 French nationals had died in Israel and 17 are missing, including children.
With the Israeli-Hamas war now in its seventh day, the Israeli army has intensified its raids on the Gaza Strip and expanded its target area to southern Lebanon, increasing the risk of international escalation.
In Gaza, at least 1,500 people have been killed in retaliatory strikes from Israel with an estimated 6,612 more injured with those numbers expected to climb.
At least 1,300 people have died and 3,227 others have been injured in Israel.