“Justice does not forget”: 300 French and Israeli lawyers rallied for hostages in the Gaza Strip

“We will protect them. Not because they are Jews, but because they are human beings and their humanity is denied them. “This is the promise of François Zimere, a French lawyer and diplomat, to the Israeli captives. Behind soldiers and emergency services, justice experts are fighting to free Kfir, a 9-month-old baby, and 239 other Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip. Their portraits adorn the walls of the Maison du Bar de Paris (I), where 300 French and Israeli lawyers gathered on Thursday evening to denounce the “documented crime against humanity.” They now have the “burden of proof,” a principle of law that requires sufficient evidence to be presented to support the charges. A principle that lives up to its name, as the documents, photographs and videos collected by lawyers for desperate families carry a lot of weight.

“Justice does not forget,” insisted Amit Becher, president of the Israeli Bar Association, who came into the room to talk about what he saw: “Videos of women exposed naked on the streets of Gaza, children beheaded, families burned together, and a man from Hamas calls his parents and shouts: I killed ten Jews with my own hands, see on WhatsApp. Be proud of me. »

So much evidence that should “put an end to the debate about the qualifications of the Hamas attack,” said Aya, who lost three relatives on October 7 and remains without news of seven members of her family, was captured that day. She, who has “no more tears to cry,” asks the 300 lawyers present to acknowledge the existence of a “crime against humanity.” “International law is clear: this is indeed a deliberate mass attack on civilians,” says Francois Zimerey.

However, for part of the audience the relevance lies elsewhere. “War crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide – what does it matter today? “says Patrick Klugman, a lawyer at the Paris Bar: “We must mobilize our only weapon: immediate legal action.” Providing a lawyer to any family of French citizens detained by Hamas, creating legal think tanks and warning international lawyers: three measures were met with applause that made Amit Becher cry during his speech. “Please, French or Israeli lawyers, join us, do everything you can at your level,” he pleads.

A prayer that resonates with Renee Kaddouche, a Jewish and business law lawyer who came to “see how to help.” “I gave my contacts to Israeli colleagues to help them with business law and free up their time to care for victims.” As Aya, stunned, recounts her family’s suffering, Meh Kaddush raises her hand to her mouth. She furiously applauds every suggestion from her colleague. As she leaves the courtroom, she takes one of the bracelets handed out by the Israeli Bar Association, a woven bracelet that she will not take off “until all the hostages have returned home.”