Israeli president barred from leaving plane in Paris amid security concerns

JERUSALEM

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his delegation were forced to remain in their aircraft after disembarking in Paris amid security concerns, according to Israeli media on Wednesday.

Herzog arrived in the French capital to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and to meet with French officials before departing to Italy.

“Due to fears of a security incident at Paris airport, President Herzog and his accompanying delegation were not allowed to disembark from the plane,” the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said.

“After about 40 minutes, the president and his accompanying delegation were allowed to disembark from the plane,” it added.

The Israeli news portal Walla said the move was taken after a person was spotted on the roof of a nearby building during the plane's landing.

According to The Times of Israel newspaper, security measures have been enhanced for the Israeli delegation to the Olympic Games in Paris amid tension over Tel Aviv’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

More than 39,100 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 90,200 injured, according to local health authorities.

Over nine months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala