French prosecutors seek suspended prison term for commentator over Gaza remarks

French prosecutors on Wednesday sought an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a €4,000 ($4,700) fine against commentator and essayist Barbara Lefebvre over remarks she made about Palestinian civilians in Gaza, French newspaper Liberation reported.

Lefebvre appeared before a Paris criminal court on charges of incitement to hatred and endorsement of a crime against humanity over comments made on Israel-based news channel i24 News in February 2025.

During the program, she said civilians in Gaza were as responsible as members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and called for Gaza to be “emptied,” while expressing support for a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Lefebvre denied the allegations, saying she was referring to civilians who had participated in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

She also said she meant “emptying Gaza” in a military sense to allow the territory to be rebuilt.

The prosecutor said Lefebvre's remarks targeted all Gazans and described them as “a hate speech of rare violence.”

Her lawyer argued that she had expressed an opinion and had not exceeded the limits of freedom of expression.

The court is due to issue its ruling Nov. 13.