Gaza donkeys flown to France in controversial operation while civilians left to starve

An Israeli-backed animal rescue operation is under scrutiny for using a Belgian airport as a transit hub to airlift donkeys from Gaza to sanctuaries in France.

World

3 min read

The New Arab Staff

07 August, 2025

A donkey feeds near people gathering at the site of a destroyed building in the aftermath of overnight Israeli bombardment in the Japanese neighbourhood in the northwest of Khan Yunis [Getty]

An Israeli animal rescue initiative has sparked widespread criticism after using Belgium’s Liege Airport as a transit hub to airlift dozens of donkeys from the Gaza Strip to sanctuaries in France, as Palestinian civilians endure mass starvation and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

The operation, led by Israeli NGO Starting Over Sanctuary, has provoked outrage from pro-Palestine activists, who condemned the prioritisation of the evacuation of animals over life-saving aid to Gaza’s besieged civilian population.

Volunteers with the NGO have framed the effort as humanitarian, but critics argue it is politically motivated and morally indefensible, especially amid the severe famine gripping Gaza this summer.

Belgian media reported on the transit route after the group had marked its tenth flight in late July, transporting 50 donkeys via Liege to southern France. Photographs and videos shared by the group prominently featured the Liege Airport logo.

Christian Delcourt, spokesperson for the airport, confirmed the flights, stating the airport plays a passive role and "simply provides the infrastructure".

He said the donkeys stay less than 24 hours, and most arrive in poor health. While the airport is a major hub for transporting live animals, mainly horses, donkey shipments are rare.

Israeli activist Sharon Cohen, who heads Starting Over Sanctuary, claimed the group’s work was "politically neutral" and guided by "compassion and a deep respect for life".

The NGO says it has evacuated around 600 donkeys since October 2023, primarily through the Donkey Flying Project.

However, Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported that the Israeli army allegedly stole hundreds of donkeys from Gaza in coordination with Israeli organisations and with backing from Belgian and French institutions.

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The animals, which many Palestinians in Gaza rely on for transport as roads remain blocked by the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli bombardments, were reportedly smuggled into Israel and flown to France to prevent their use in reconstruction efforts.

Kan cited soldiers as saying the donkeys were taken from areas they had raided in Gaza, under the pretext of "rescuing them from sickness and neglect".

Many took to social media to condemn the operation, accusing Israel of sabotaging daily life in Gaza and stealing the animals rather than rescuing them, especially as donkeys have become a vital means of transportation due to fuel shortages.

"Israel has been stealing the LAST means of transportation in Gaza - donkeys," content creator Ryan Rozbiani wrote on X. "Israeli media ran a report on ‘rescued’ donkeys from Gaza with no mention of the Palestinians suffering and famine. To them, Palestinian lives matter less than animals."

Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha added: "An Israeli news report detailed how the occupation has transferred hundreds of donkeys after stealing them from inside Gaza, moving them on to Israel and Europe. This confirms that Israel is systematically stripping Gazans of their remaining lifelines and that they feign concern for the lives of donkeys while killing tens of thousands of Palestinians."

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Meanwhile, aid agencies warn that famine is rapidly spreading across the densely populated territory. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said starvation and dehydration were now "frontline effects" of the conflict, not side effects.

UNICEF also reported that only 40 percent of Gaza's drinking water facilities remain operational. Fuel shortages caused by the Israeli aid blockade threaten to shut down even those within weeks.

With fuel nearly gone, donkeys have become essential for transport in place of trucks - but even they now face starvation due to a lack of feed.