French Consulate in East Jerusalem Under Fire for Alleged Terror Group Ties
A new investigation reveals extensive links between French diplomatic missions, local authorities, and Palestinian organizations with connections to Hamas and PFLP
A French investigation has uncovered what appears to be systematic cooperation between French diplomatic institutions and organizations linked to Palestinian terrorist groups.
The Nour Atallah Case Exposes Broader Pattern
The controversy centers around Nour Atallah, a Gazan student at Sciences Po Lille who made headlines for expressing antisemitic views and admiration for Hitler. Atallah, who called for the extermination of Jews, was among hundreds of Gazans recently welcomed into France through informal evacuation arrangements coordinated by the French Foreign Ministry, where participants are selected by Hamas authorities who control the territory.
According to the Atlantico investigation, Atallah is the niece of Ayoub Ahmed Atallah, who served as personal bodyguard to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin until both were eliminated in a 2004 Israeli targeted strike.
Among the 174 Gazans brought to France, investigators also identified family members of Moussa Abou Marzouk, one of Hamas's senior leaders whose name appears on seized documents revealing secret communications between France and the terrorist organization.
Secret Diplomatic Meetings with Hamas Leadership
The investigation alleges that on October 16, 2020, France initiated a clandestine meeting in Doha, Qatar, between senior French intelligence officials and two major Hamas figures: Moussa Abou Marzouk and Khaled Meshaal. American intelligence sources reportedly corroborated these revelations.
The Al Bustan Center: Terror Links Behind Humanitarian Facade
On July 10, 2019, then-Consul General Pierre Cochard (now French Ambassador to Iran) participated in the launch of the Al Bustan socio-cultural center in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood. The project, financed by France's Foreign Ministry and fifteen local authorities, was officially designed to provide educational and psychological support to Palestinian youth.
However, the investigation reveals the center has been consistently managed by individuals with documented terrorism connections:
Daoud Ghoul, the center's 2019 director, had been imprisoned three times for membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Sara Qaraein, who replaced Ghoul after his background became public, regularly posted Facebook content celebrating convicted terrorists and encouraging violence.
Kutaybah Odeh, the current association director, allegedly belongs to the clan of Mohammed Odeh, a member of Hamas's "Silwan cell" responsible for attacks killing 35 Israelis.
French Municipal Financing Network
According to the investigation, it traces how French municipal involvement expanded from 15 communities in 2019 to 34 by 2023. These municipalities, many already known for supporting organizations satellite to La France Insoumise party, have been funding Palestinian projects through entities like the Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP) and Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS).
Particularly concerning is a project in Khuza'a, Gaza, where an "agricultural" initiative near Israel's security barrier allegedly provided cover for Hamas tunnel construction. Tunnel access points were later discovered within the project infrastructure, facilitating the October 7, 2023 attacks on Kibbutz Nir Oz.
The Terror Reward System
The report details how Hamas operates a systematic reward mechanism for families of "martyrs," providing social benefits and prestige to compensate for lost family members who carry out attacks. The Al Bustan center allegedly serves this system by caring for terrorists' relatives, including organizing visits to imprisoned family members.
This creates what investigators term an "enchanted bubble" - a stark contrast where children of terror operatives receive quality education and European-funded trips to France, while ordinary Palestinians remain under restrictive conditions without similar opportunities.
Israeli Calls for Consulate Closure
In response to these revelations, Israeli officials are now demanding the closure of the French consulate in East Jerusalem. According to Israel Hayom, Foreign Minister Israel Katz is mulling this unprecedented diplomatic step due to the consulate's documented ties to terrorist organizations.
The timing is particularly significant as French President Emmanuel Macron has been actively pushing for international recognition of Palestinian statehood. Israeli officials view the consulate's terror connections as fundamentally incompatible with France's claims of seeking peace and stability in the region.
Political Implications and Unanswered Questions
The investigation raises questions about French oversight and accountability. Former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian approved the programs, while current Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has dismissed the Atallah case as a "screening error."
The report notes that several French municipalities have granted honorary citizenship to convicted Palestinian terrorists, including Marwan Barghouthi (sentenced for five terrorist murders) and Salah Hamouri (convicted for plotting to assassinate Israel's former chief rabbi).
Despite the Al Bustan center's destruction by Israel in November 2023, the financing networks remain active. The investigation raises questions about whether these relationships extend beyond diplomatic outreach, potentially creating concerns about the use of French taxpayer funding and official diplomatic channels in ways that could be scrutinized under material support regulations.