French Lawmaker Praises Türkiye for Repatriating Stranded Nationals

French parliamentarian Farida Amrani has publicly acknowledged Türkiye's humanitarian assistance in repatriating French nationals who were detained by Israeli authorities and subsequently stranded without consular support. In a social media statement Friday, Amrani detailed how nine French citizens, described as "illegally detained" in Israel, were expelled to Istanbul where Turkish authorities intervened to facilitate their return to Paris after France's Foreign Ministry reportedly declined to provide repatriation assistance.

Amrani specifically criticized French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, alleging the ministry issued "a clear directive" against funding the return of the detained nationals. She characterized the French government's position as effectively deciding "to abandon them," creating a situation where three activists found themselves stranded at Istanbul Airport without means to complete their journey home. The lawmaker's comments highlight growing tensions within France regarding consular protection policies for citizens participating in international humanitarian missions.

The French legislator expressed particular gratitude toward Turkish Justice and Development Party lawmakers Bahadir Yenisehirlioglu and Hasan Turan, alongside Turkish consular staff in both Tel Aviv and Istanbul, for their coordinated efforts in resolving the humanitarian situation. Turkish Airlines played a crucial role in transporting the stranded activists from Istanbul to Paris, demonstrating Türkiye's capacity for rapid humanitarian response in international crises involving foreign nationals.

The incident follows Israel's interception of the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla last week, during which Israeli naval forces seized over 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Most detainees have since been deported to their countries of origin, with numerous accounts emerging of concerning treatment during Israeli captivity. Amrani concluded her statement with a pointed hope that "France will protect the next citizens of the flotilla 'dumped' somewhere in the world," underscoring ongoing concerns about governmental responsibility toward citizens engaged in international humanitarian activities.