Lebanese Militant Georges Abdallah Released, Returns After 40 Years French Prison

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a 74-year-old Lebanese communist militant and pro-Palestinian activist, was released from a French prison after over 40 years and deported to Lebanon. Abdallah had been serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 1982 assassinations of a U.S. military attaché and an Israeli diplomat in Paris, with his release repeatedly blocked due to strong opposition from the United States. Upon arrival in Beirut, he was greeted by large crowds of supporters waving Palestinian and Lebanese Communist Party flags, who view him as a political prisoner and symbol of resistance. Abdallah condemned the ongoing situation in Gaza, calling for continued resistance against Israel and criticizing Arab inaction. His release was described by his lawyer as a political victory, and Abdallah himself emphasized honoring the martyrs of resistance and the importance of ongoing struggle for liberation. Despite his supporters' views, critics continue to regard Abdallah's case within the context of international terrorism.