logo
Georges Abdallah's brother to AFP: Happy with French decision, never expected he'd be free

Georges Abdallah's brother to AFP: Happy with French decision, never expected he'd be free

LBCI17-07-2025
Robert Abdallah, brother of Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah—who was ordered released by a French court on Thursday after spending nearly 40 years in prison—expressed his happiness with the decision, saying he never expected 'the day would come when he would be free.'
He told AFP, 'We are very happy with this decision... I never expected the French judiciary to issue such a ruling and that a day would come when he would be free, especially after his release was obstructed multiple times.'
He added, 'For once, the French authorities freed themselves from American and Israeli pressure.'
AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hamas says US accusations over Gaza deal failure 'run counter' to talks
Hamas says US accusations over Gaza deal failure 'run counter' to talks

L'Orient-Le Jour

time3 hours ago

  • L'Orient-Le Jour

Hamas says US accusations over Gaza deal failure 'run counter' to talks

A Hamas official on Friday accused U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff of distorting reality after he announced Washington's withdrawal from Gaza truce talks and accused the group of blocking a deal. "The negative statements of the U.S. envoy Witkoff run completely counter to the context in which the last negotiations were held, and he is perfectly aware of this, but they come to serve the Israeli position," said Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim in an interview with AFP.

NGOs sue Belgium to do more to stop Israel's war in Gaza
NGOs sue Belgium to do more to stop Israel's war in Gaza

L'Orient-Le Jour

time3 hours ago

  • L'Orient-Le Jour

NGOs sue Belgium to do more to stop Israel's war in Gaza

Two Belgian NGOs launched a court case on Friday seeking to pressure the country to do more to help stop Israel's war in Gaza, as the European Union struggles to take action. Belgium has been one of the most outspoken of the EU's 27 countries in seeking to call out Israel over its devastating military operation in Gaza. The EU's top diplomat floated a raft of options after Israel was found to have breached a cooperation agreement with the EU on human rights grounds. But the bloc's member states are deeply divided over their approach to the conflict and have failed to act together to take any significant measures against Israel. The two organisations behind the court case, the Belgian-Palestinian Association and National Coordination for Peace and Democracy, are pushing for Belgium to try to unilaterally halt the EU's cooperation deal with Israel. They are also demanding other steps, including the closure of the country's airspace for any flights taking military equipment to Israel. "Unless there is a sudden change, the European Union will not be able to suspend the association agreement with Israel," Vincent Letellier, a lawyer representing the NGOs, told AFP, alluding to the bloc's divisions. "Countries must now be put under pressure by their voters and by the courts." A preliminary hearing in the case was held before a judge in Brussels on Friday and complete proceedings were scheduled for Sept. 15. International criticism of Israel is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading. Hamas' October 2023 attacks in Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages taken during the attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27, the Israeli military says, are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The United Nations considers the Ministry's figures to be reliable.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store