Spanish airline passengers served kosher meals with ‘free Palestine’ written on packaging

Jewish community organisations have condemned a “serious act of antisemitism” on board Spain’s national airline, after Jewish passengers served kosher meals found the words “free Palestine” written on the packaging.

The Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA) described how “on flight IB0102 [Iberia] from Buenos Aires to Madrid, passenger Salvador Auday received his kosher meal tray with the inscription ‘Free Palestine’. Other Jewish passengers also received trays marked with the initials ‘FP’.

“The DAIA strongly condemns this discriminatory act and has contacted the airline’s authorities to demand explanations and immediate action.”

The Federación de Comunidades Judías de España (FCJE) which officially represents the Spanish Jewish community, contacted Iberia and received the following response:

“The flight departed from Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires at 1:00 PM and landed at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas shortly before 6:00 AM this morning, 5 August.

“During the flight, several passengers who had requested kosher meals reported that handwritten pro-Palestinian messages had appeared on their trays. The Iberia crew documented the incident and got involved to assist those affected. The captain personally approached them to offer an apology on behalf of the airline.

“Iberia is conducting a thorough investigation, both internally and with the external catering providers, with the aim of clarifying what occurred and taking all appropriate measures.

“At Iberia, we categorically reject any form of discrimination, incitement to hatred, or behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals. Actions of this nature are unacceptable and go against the values of respect and inclusion that are essential to our company’s identity.”

This latest incident aboard a Spanish airline comes two weeks after 50 Jewish children were removed from a Vueling flight from Valencia to Paris. The airline claimed that the children had been misbehaving and had jeopardised the safety of other passengers. The group maintained that the ill-treatment they had received – which included the arrest of their leader – followed air crew hearing one of the group say something in Hebrew. Iberia, like Vueling, is owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG), a British-Spanish multinational airline holding company.

In recent months the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, has become a key European critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, repeatedly accusing Israel of “genocide”, calling for Eurovision to boycott the country and strongly criticising the EU for not suspending its trade agreement with Israel. Observers have noted that Sanchez, the leader of a minority coalition clinging onto power during an extended and wide-ranging corruption scandal, is almost completely reliant on his fiercely anti-Israel far-left coalition partners to remain as the country’s leader.

It is unclear whether the writing on the kosher meals was written in transit or before the meals were delivered to the plane.

Iberia has been contacted for further comment.