Georges Abdallah Freed After 41 Years: A Controversial Figure in the Palestinian Cause

Sun Oct 19 2025 05:16:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

French authorities have released Georges Abdallah, a Lebanese national who gained notoriety for his role in politically motivated murders, after four decades in prison.

Georges Abdallah, a 74-year-old Lebanese supporter of the Palestinian cause, has been released from a French prison after serving 41 years for his involvement in the 1980s murders of US and Israeli diplomats. Despite his crimes, Abdallah remained a symbol for leftist activists dedicated to his release, citing political pressure from the US as a barrier to his parole over the years. His release has sparked debate over justice and political influence.

Georges Abdallah, a 74-year-old Lebanese educator known for his commitment to leftist principles and the Palestinian cause, was released from prison in France on Friday after serving an astonishing 41 years. His case has garnered significant attention among political activists, particularly those on the Marxist-Leninist left who regard him as a martyr for their ideals. Abdallah left the Lannemezan prison in France in the early hours and is set to be deported to Lebanon.

Abdallah was convicted in 1987 for his involvement in the killings of two diplomats—one American and one Israeli—in France. His trial proceedings have largely faded from public memory, yet his supporters have continuously fought for his freedom. Activists rallied annually outside the prison and three municipalities in France even designated him as an "honorary citizen."

Subsequent to qualifying for parole in 1999, numerous requests for his release were denied. Supporters claim that these refusals were largely influenced by pressure on the French government from American and Israeli authorities. In a recent interview, Abdallah expressed that his focus on the Palestinian struggle helped him retain his sanity during his years of incarceration.

Born in 1951 into a Christian family in northern Lebanon, Abdallah became involved in radical politics during Lebanon's chaotic civil war. He co-founded the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF), which orchestrated attacks against Israeli and American targets in Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His group was responsible for the assassination of diplomats in France, leading to his arrest in 1984.

After being caught in the crossfire of a political kidnapping scenario and linked to further violence, Abdallah was charged with the diplomats' murders, defense described as less about direct involvement and more about ideological justification. He received a life imprisonment sentence. Despite many attempts to secure his release, including political intervention from figures like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he remained behind bars until a recent ruling deemed the length of his confinement as "disproportionate."

While many supporters regarded his release as a triumph for justice, critics pointed to the years of political influence that hindered his freedom, calling for accountability on both historical and political fronts. Abdallah’s case has reignited discussions regarding the intersection of politics and justice within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some arguing that no Palestinian prisoner has served such a lengthy term for related offenses.