Paris (AFP) – Red paint and slogans were daubed at the entry to the offices of national Israeli airline El Al in Paris, with Israel Thursday urging French authorities to take action over the “barbaric act”.

Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans and inscriptions, including “Free Palestine” and “El Al Genocide Airline”, were written on the entrance which, along with the pavement, was also daubed with red paint overnight Wednesday to Thursday.

“I condemn the barbaric and violent act against El Al and expect the law enforcement authorities in France to locate the criminals and take strong action against them,” Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev wrote on X.

The act was the result of announcements by President Emmanuel Macron that “make gifts to” Palestinian militant group Hamas, she added – an apparent reference to his announcement last month that France plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

Israel’s ambassador to France Joshua Zarka, visiting the scene, described the vandalism as an “act of terrorism” that aims to “terrorise El Al employees, terrorise Israeli citizens, scare them and try to make them feel that they are not welcome.”