French TV censors actress Adele Haenel after she condemns Israel’s genocide in Palestine

French TV network France Televisions censored actress Adele Haenel after she denounced Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. On a recent appearance on France 5, Haenel accused France of being complicit in the alleged genocide and called for sanctions against Israel. Following her comments, the channel removed the program from its replay service.

Haenel, an actress, author, and political activist, had previously discussed violence against children and her own experiences with sexual abuse in her first book. The show's format allows for free expression, and Haenel's speech about the silence surrounding victims of sexist and sexual violence was met with applause. However, pro-Israeli and far-right groups complained, leading France Televisions to remove the program from its website on 10 September.

Haenel claimed she did not submit the text as shown because she was confident it would not be approved. The version she delivered ended with a clear statement: "The State of Israel is committing genocide. Don't accept the unacceptable, don't let collective silence close in on Palestine." Haenel explained that adding a subject to the sentence - "the State of Israel is committing genocide" - makes the perpetrator evident, holding Israel accountable for the ongoing crime against humanity.

This approach forces governments to confront their political choices and collaboration with the Israeli army, potentially resulting in censorship backlash.