Georges Abdallah arrives in Beirut after 41 years in French prisons
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Lebanese activist Georges Abdallah returns to Beirut after 41 years in French prisons, greeted by large crowds at Beirut International Airport celebrating his release.
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Lebanese activist Georges Abdallah holding his fist up in a move of resilience upon arriving at Beirut International Airport on July 25, 2025. (Social media)
Lebanese revolutionary Georges Abdallah arrived in Beirut on Friday after securing his release from French prisons following nearly 41 years of incarceration.
Massive crowds gathered at Beirut International Airport and along the airport road to welcome his return and celebrate his homecoming.
Hundreds of Lebanese have gathered near #Beirut International Airport to welcome revolutionary activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 25, 2025
French authorities deported Abdallah a day earlier than expected in an apparent attempt to disrupt the planned reception and celebrations.… pic.twitter.com/yz0LfFDNNx
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent, Abdallah’s convoy is expected to head north from the airport toward his hometown of Qoubaiyat.
As #GeorgesAbdallah heads to #Beirut, finally freed after 41 years in French prisons, #AlMayadeen interviewed his brother Maurice Abdallah ahead of Georges’ long-awaited return to his homeland.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 25, 2025
Georges was originally scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on July 26. However, his early… pic.twitter.com/rJicfEtjrI
'We must all rally around the resistance': Abdallah
Speaking at Beirut International Airport, Abdallah underscored the enduring importance of armed resistance and regional unity in confronting Israeli aggression, particularly in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
"The steadfastness of prisoners inside depends on the steadfastness of those abroad," Abdallah stated. He emphasized that the Resistance in Palestine must escalate, describing it as a moral and historical necessity.
"It is a shame for history that Arabs watch [from the sidelines] the suffering of the people of Palestine and the people of Gaza," he said, calling for immediate and collective Arab action. "It is shameful for any Arab to watch. We must all rally around the Resistance."
Abdallah paid tribute to those who have fallen in the struggle, saying, "We bow to the martyrs of the Resistance forever. They are the fundamental foundation of any idea of liberation."
He further stressed that "as long as there is resistance, there will be a return to the homeland," noting that the path to liberation is paved with the blood of martyrs who have created what he called a "waterfall of resistance blood."
Highlighting the regional dimension of the struggle, Abdallah pointed to the role of the Egyptian people. "The Egyptian masses can change the situation in Gaza," he said, urging broad mobilization across the Arab world.
Abdallah released ahead of schedule
Earlier tioday, French authorities released Abdallah one day ahead of schedule but barred him from making any public or press statements before his deportation. Al Mayadeen’s envoy in Paris confirmed that Abdallah is in good health.
Commenting on the release, Ibrahim Halabi, a member of the campaign to free Georges Abdallah, hailed the moment as "a major victory for freedoms, not just for Georges and Lebanon, but for all who resist oppression."
Abdallah’s release was finally ordered by the French judiciary on July 17, after 41 years of incarceration, a decision long delayed due to sustained pressure from the United States and the Israeli occupation to keep him imprisoned.
In recent months, global solidarity efforts had surged, calling for justice and denouncing the extended detention that far exceeded the terms of his original sentence.
Abdallah calls for Arab mobilization ahead of release
Abdallah conveyed a message of resilience and defiance through Al Mayadeen, just ahead of his release from French detention.
“Calm, reassured, and a fighter until my last breath,” Abdallah said, emphasizing his continued belief in the path of resistance.
The message was conveyed by Abdallah's lawyer, where the Lebanese activist rejected the notion of fear, affirming, “I feel no threat, my condition is that of any other fighter in our homeland.”
His words were accompanied by a clear call to the Arab street, urging people across the region to unite in conscious and determined mobilization.
In his message to the Arab world, Abdallah underscored the need for unified popular action: "When the Arab street moves, we will witness a resistance uprising."
He expressed frustration with current levels of public engagement, stating that "the Arab people are not rising up sufficiently" and must "gather in the streets to act."
The remarks reflect his broader revolutionary ideology rooted in grassroots struggle, framed by decades of unwavering commitment to Palestine and to confronting imperialism and Zionism in the region.
Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Abdallah’s lawyer emphasized his readiness to resume political activity. “We must rally behind the struggle of Georges,” she said, describing him as “fully aware of current events” and possessing “great momentum and vitality.”
She called on the public to embrace his cause as a symbol of long-term resistance and liberation.
