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The French government has suspended its evacuation program for Gaza residents following revelations that two individuals granted refugee status in France had expressed virulent antisemitic views, including open support for terrorism and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
The controversy erupted after Nour Atallah, a Palestinian student from Gaza who arrived in France last week, was found to have posted a series of deeply antisemitic and pro-terror content on social media. Atallah was set to begin law and communications studies at Sciences Po Lille this fall under a scholarship arranged by the French Consulate General in Jerusalem.
Instead, her student status has been revoked, her residency is under review, and she now faces possible deportation.
Antisemitic Posts and Praise for October 7 Massacre
On her now-deleted X account (@Atallah_Nur), Atallah praised the October 7 Hamas massacre in real time, writing “Thank God” at 7:21 a.m. that morning. Two days later, she posted: “The execution of hostages should not be random or hasty. The filming should be of high quality, befitting the joy of what occurred on Saturday morning.”
She also shared a video of Adolf Hitler saying, “Kill the Jews everywhere.”
Atallah’s family ties also raised red flags. She eulogized her uncle, Ayoub Atallah, who served as a bodyguard to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Both were killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2004.
Sciences Po Lille, which had agreed to host Atallah, promptly rescinded her admission after learning of her online activity. “The content of these posts is in direct contradiction with the values upheld by Sciences Po Lille, which fights against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and discrimination,” the university stated.
France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the posts and said the matter had been referred to prosecutors. “Hamas propagandists have no place in our country,” he declared.
The Lille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a formal investigation had been opened for “condoning terrorism and crimes against humanity” through a public online communication service.
Government Admits Breakdown in Vetting, Suspends Evacuations
Atallah’s entry to France was facilitated by France’s Foreign Ministry under Jean-Noël Barrot, who acknowledged systemic failure. “The pre-screenings… have clearly not worked,” Barrot said, ordering an internal investigation to prevent similar lapses.
On Friday, Barrot announced a complete freeze on Gaza evacuations until the investigation concludes. “No evacuation of any kind will take place until we have drawn the consequences,” he said, adding that all recent arrivals would now be subject to renewed vetting.
Second Refugee Also Flagged for Inciting Violence Against Jews
The Atallah case has brought renewed attention to another individual — Fady Hossam Hanona, a Gaza-based journalist who also received French assistance to relocate last month.
Hanona’s social media history includes extreme antisemitic statements, including — “The Jews are sons of dogs and I am for killing them and burning them like Hitler did. I would be extremely happy,” and “I am ready to kill them wherever they are: children, old people, or soldiers.”
These posts were exposed in 2022 by HonestReporting while Hanona was working as a freelancer for The New York Times, which later severed ties with him. Hanona is now living in Paris and was recently featured by France 24, which referred to him as a “regular contributor” and portrayed him as a moderate voice advocating for peace.
The revelation that two individuals with documented histories of antisemitic incitement were welcomed into France under official protection has sparked widespread outrage. French authorities have yet to confirm whether Hanona’s status will be reviewed or revoked.
A Warning Long Ignored
The French government’s scramble to contain the fallout from these cases reflects a deeper failure years in the making. For too long, France has tolerated the spread of imported antisemitism and failed to implement serious safeguards against the radical ideologies entering its borders. What should have been addressed through responsible immigration policy and cultural integration years ago is now erupting as a national crisis — one that threatens not only French Jews, but the country’s core democratic values. France cannot afford to remain passive as Islamist extremism and Jew-hatred take root. The time for half-measures is over.
