France dismisses torture complaint against Franco-Israeli soldier filmed torturing Palestinians

Paris (Quds News Network)- The French National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has dismissed a complaint filed by several associations against a Franco-Israeli soldier, who was filmed torturing Palestinian prisoners in Gaza. The complaint, which was based on a video showing the soldier dehumanizing prisoners, was closed in early September, citing “insufficient evidence”.

The video, filmed in January and shared on social media in March, shows a man identified as Yoel Ohnona mocking Palestinian prisoners in a humiliating state. The video, which circulated widely, depicts detainees bound and blindfolded, with some subjected to torture.

The complaint, filed in mid-April by associations including the Belgian “March 30 Movement,” the French “Justice et Droits Sans Frontières” (JDSF), and the “Association des Palestiniens de France,” accused the soldier of war crimes, specifically “torture” and “complicity in torture.”

Despite the evidence presented, including a self-incriminating statement by the soldier who appeared to confirm his involvement, the PNAT ruled that the case lacked sufficient material to prove the alleged acts of complicity in war crimes.

The associations expressed outrage at the decision. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argued that the video and accompanying evidence should have been enough to open an investigation. “The PNAT is demonstrating a lack of will to shed light on the involvement of binational citizens in war crimes in Gaza,” said the legal team, suggesting that the dismissal might have political motivations.

In the video, which was posted on social media by Palestinian activist Younis Tiwari, a French-speaking voice can be heard mocking a Palestinian prisoner and referencing the October 7 military operation.

The associations behind the complaint are considering filing a civil action in the hopes of compelling a judge to investigate. They continue to advocate for accountability for war crimes committed during the ongoing Gaza genocide.

In March, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine described the video as “abject,” but noted that there was insufficient information to authenticate the footage. Israeli authorities have claimed that Palestinian detainees are held in accordance with Israeli law.