A worker at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has been suspended after publicly expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people by shouting “Free Palestine” over a radio exchange with the crew of Israel’s El Al airline, French authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on the morning of August 11, when the airport employee used the communication channel to convey support for Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. The gesture, though brief, drew the ire of the airline crew and prompted a formal complaint.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that the worker’s actions violated standard radio communication protocols, which are meant to focus solely on air traffic safety and operational matters. “He has been barred from performing any duties until further notice. A disciplinary procedure was immediately initiated,” Tabarot said on social media platform X.

Supporters of the suspended worker have highlighted the act as a rare moment of public solidarity with the Palestinian cause, especially at a time when international attention is focused on Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians, including children, continue to face humanitarian catastrophe due to Israeli airstrikes and blockades.

Human rights advocates condemned the suspension, arguing that expressing support for Palestinians should not be penalized, particularly in light of the systematic attacks on Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. “Speaking out against occupation and in support of human rights should never be treated as misconduct,” one activist told reporters.

The case has sparked a broader conversation in France about the limits of free speech in workplaces and the international community’s response to the suffering of the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)