50 Jewish Children Removed from Spanish Flight for Singing in Hebrew
A shocking act of antisemitism against minors has unfolded in Spain, echoing chilling historical memories
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A severe incident occurred in Spain this week when a group of approximately 50 French Jewish children and teenagers, aged 10 to 15, were forcibly removed from a Vueling Airlines flight in Valencia after singing traditional Hebrew songs while boarding and awaiting takeoff. The group was part of a summer camp returning home to France.
The Spanish airline did not provide a clear explanation for the removal, and video footage shows the 21-year-old camp director being arrested and handcuffed by local police. Her phone was confiscated, and she was later released after signing a non-disclosure agreement forbidding her from distributing documentation of the incident.
According to Enfoque Judío, the children began singing Jewish songs during the boarding process. After crew members demanded they stop, the police were called. The children, many wearing tzitzit and Stars of David, were ordered off the plane.
One parent, Karin Lamy, told i24NEWS that a flight attendant threatened her son after he sang in Hebrew, warning, “If you continue, we will call the police.” After they were removed from the plane, police reportedly demanded the children place their phones on the ground to prevent any recording of the arrest. The camp director intervened, saying the police action was illegal.
Police then allegedly forced the young woman to the ground, handcuffed her, and took her into custody, leaving the children with other staff. The officers informed the group that they would not be allowed to reboard the flight due to the noise they had made while singing.
As of now, the children remain stranded at Valencia Airport. A local organization has reportedly provided them with meals and temporary accommodation at a nearby hotel. “The children are in total shock. It feels like we are back in 1939–1945,” said Karin Lamy. “This is a blatant antisemitic act against minors who did nothing wrong.”
She added, “The airline abandoned them completely. No alternative flight was offered. A 21-year-old woman was handcuffed because children were singing. We’ve returned to the darkest times of World War II - and I haven’t even begun to speak of the emotional damage done to our children.”
Separately, a photo circulated online showing a Palestinian flag inside an airplane cockpit, allegedly from the same flight. However, it remains unclear whether the photo was taken on that specific aircraft.
Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli shared a video of the camp director's arrest on X. “The woman arrested and beaten is the director of the summer camp. Fifty French Jewish children, ages 10 to 15, sang Hebrew songs on a flight. The Spanish airline crew reportedly called Israel a terrorist state and forced the children off the plane. This is one of the most severe antisemitic incidents we’ve seen recently.”