Ex-Real Madrid player Karim Benzema filed a lawsuit against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin for defamation, following the latter's remarks criticizing the football player's support of Gaza.

In mid-October of 2023, Benzema shared on social media a post that said Palestinians were victims of "unjust bombardment" carried out by "Israel" in the genocide against Gaza. Darmanin then accused him of having ties with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. 

16/10 "Monsieur Benzema est en lien, on le sait tous, avec les Frères musulmans..." (Cnews)
Gérald Darmanin après un tweet de Benzema qui adressait ses prières aux habitants de Gaza
16/01 Karim Benzema porte plainte contre Gérald Darmanin pour diffamation pic.twitter.com/27pYhPiglI

— Destination Télé (@DestinationTele) January 16, 2024

Benzema denied all claims brought forth by the French Minister, saying Darmanin's accusations were aimed at sabotaging the Muslim player's honor and reputation. 

He also added that he was used in political ploys because of his fame when the real discourse that needs to be highlighted is not empty accusations but the Israeli genocide in Gaza. 

Following his remarks in October, Darmanin said he had nothing personal against Benzema but only wanted to note how shocking it was that the football player did not support Israelis amid the catastrophic war on Gaza nor comment on the "Islamist terrorism" that killed a French teacher earlier in January. 

The French Minister is apparently also frustrated with Benzema's refusal to sing the French national anthem, in addition to his "proselytizing on social networks."

Notably, it seems like Gerald Darmanin has kept an itinerary of incidents he could use to criticize Benzema.

Read more: Benzema announces retirement from international career with France

Darmanin reflects French extremism 

This does not come as a surprise knowing France's extremism toward "Israel". 

France has opted not to endorse South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), AFP reported, citing the recently inaugurated French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne who claimed that accusing "Israel" of genocide is "immoral".

"Accusing the Jewish state of genocide crosses a moral threshold. The notion of genocide cannot be exploited for political ends," the Foreign Minister said during a parliamentary session.

This comes as the Palestinian Health Ministry revealed that the death toll in Gaza has increased to 24,448 martyrs since the onset of the aggression on October 7, adding that the number of wounded has reached 61,504.