The Palestinian Authority has extradited to France Mahmoud al-Adra, also known as Hicham Harb, the alleged supervisor of the 1982 Rue des Rosiers attack that killed six people in Paris. The extradition, confirmed by French authorities on Thursday, marks a pivotal moment in one of France’s longest-running terrorism investigations.
Decades-Long Pursuit Ends with Transfer
Hicham Harb, now 72 years old, was handed over to French judicial authorities. His lawyer, Ammar Dweik, and his son, Bilal al-Adra, confirmed the transfer to AFP. The son stated he received an emotional call from his father on Thursday morning informing him of the handover. The extradition follows the arrest of Harb by Palestinian authorities in September 2025.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the decision. The Élysée Palace released a statement thanking the Palestinian authorities, noting their cooperation “demonstrates their commitment to fighting terrorism, as President Abbas had committed to the French President.” This diplomatic move is linked to France’s recognition of the State of Palestine, which President Abbas cited in late 2025 as creating a suitable framework for the French extradition request.
Legal Proceedings and Family’s Objections
The extradition faced last-minute legal challenges. According to Harb’s son, a Palestinian administrative court rejected an urgent request from their lawyer on Tuesday to suspend the extradition, providing no reasoning for the dismissal. The family condemns the transfer as “illegal.”
Lawyer Ammar Dweik argued the extradition “constitutes a serious violation of the Palestinian basic law and a dangerous precedent.” The family has expressed fears for Harb’s right to a fair trial and concerns over his health, stating he suffers from cancer and neurological disorders.
Path to a Long-Awaited Trial
This development clears a major hurdle for a trial that has been decades in the making. In February, France’s Court of Cassation, the highest judicial court, confirmed that a trial would proceed for the Rue des Rosiers attack. The trial had been contested by two other accused:
- Abou Zayed, a Norwegian of Palestinian origin considered one of the shooters, who has been detained in France since 2020.
- Hazza Taha, born in the West Bank and suspected of hiding weapons at the time, who is currently under judicial supervision in France.
Harb is one of four other suspects subject to an arrest warrant in the case.
The 1982 Attack and International Charges
On August 9, 1982, a commando of three to five men attacked the Jewish quarter in Paris’s Marais district. The assault began with a grenade explosion at the Jo Goldenberg restaurant, followed by a shooting spree, killing six and wounding 22. The attack was attributed to the Fatah-Revolutionary Council (Fatah-CR), a dissident Palestinian group led by Abu Nidal.
Hicham Harb is also wanted under a German arrest warrant from 1988 for a 1985 attack at Frankfurt airport and is under investigation by Italian authorities for a 1982 synagogue attack in Rome.
