Israeli airline pulls personnel from Paris following pro-Palestinian attack

By Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – Israel’s flag carrier, El Al Airlines, withdrew its personnel from the French capital, Paris, following an attack on its office.

According to the Jerusalem Post, El Al office’s outer door was spray-painted with red graffiti symbolizing blood, with inscriptions reading “Free Palestine,” and “El Al Genocide Airline.”

"The severe incident was discovered this morning and occurred while the building was empty, and there was no danger to the company's employees," the airline said in a statement.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and called on the French government “to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of the company’s staff and offices.”

Transportation Minister Miri Regev claimed that the incident resulted from announcements made by French President Emmanuel Macron about recognizing a Palestinian state in September.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,200 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.