Pro-Palestinian activists vandalized El Al’s Paris office Thursday overnight, defacing it with red paint and labeling the Israeli carrier a “genocide airline.” The incident, discovered in the morning when the building was empty, posed no threat to staff, El Al said in a statement.
“El Al views this incident with utmost seriousness and is working with French and Israeli authorities to address it,” the airline said, adding, “We proudly carry Israel’s flag on our planes’ tails and condemn all forms of violence, especially those driven by antisemitism.” The attack has heightened tensions amid a broader wave of anti-Israel actions in Europe.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev condemned the vandalism, warning, “French citizens, wake up. Today it’s El Al; tomorrow it could be Air France. When President [Emmanuel] Macron makes statements rewarding Hamas, this is the result.”
Regev called the act “barbaric and violent” and urged French authorities to swiftly identify and punish the perpetrators. The incident follows a pattern of escalating anti-Israel sentiment, with social media amplifying the vandalism’s impact and fueling debates over security for Israeli businesses abroad.
Meanwhile, Greece faces a series of planned anti-Israel protests starting Thursday, according to the Diaspora Affairs Ministry. A pro-Palestinian group is organizing demonstrations in Volos on the Pelion Peninsula to oppose the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris, operated by Mano Maritime.
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Protests are scheduled for Thursday evening along the Volos promenade and Wednesday morning coinciding with the ship’s docking. A broader campaign, dubbed “Day of Action for Gaza,” is set for Sunday, with over 25 anti-Israel protests planned across Greece, targeting tourist-heavy islands as well as mainland sites.
Most demonstrations are slated for the afternoon and evening in prominent public spaces such as ports, squares and archaeological sites. The coordinated protests in Greece aim to disrupt tourism linked to Israel, with organizers accusing Israel of human rights violations.
The Diaspora Affairs Ministry warned of heightened risks for Israeli travelers, particularly in popular destinations, as the campaign seeks to draw global attention. The incidents in Paris and Greece underscore the growing challenges Israeli entities face abroad, prompting calls for stronger security measures and diplomatic responses to counter the rising tide of anti-Israel actions.