​French airport staff have declined to load a package of military components meant for the Israeli defense supplier Elbit Systems onto a Saturday El Al departure out of Paris. The boycott follows a coordinated push by labor unions and pro-Palestinian advocacy organizations aiming to block the materials from reaching Israel.

​The action was initiated by a labor representative body at a cargo handling firm operating out of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Meanwhile, Israeli security personnel are actively working to untangle the standoff and clear the shipment for transfer to Israel.

​A report released Friday by The New Arab indicates that French labor unions and pro-Palestinian campaigners had already successfully stalled the delivery when it was originally slate to depart on an Air France flight Thursday morning.

​A spokesperson for the activist group Urgence Palestine stated that the freight, which was addressed to Elbit Systems Land, stayed grounded in France after airport staff and activists intervened to stop its transport. The group further asserted that Air France voided the transport agreement following the incident, despite the airline publicly denying that the cargo was ever assigned to one of its planes.

​The organization asserted that it holds documentation confirming the initial booking, as well as the tracking details and waybill for the newly scheduled transport.

​In a joint press release, trade unions stated that French manufacturing firm Mijno alongside global logistics operator DSV rescheduled the freight onto an El Al departure set to leave Charles de Gaulle Airport on Saturday. The unions urged both airport managers and French government officials to step in and prohibit the shipment from leaving French territory.

​The shipment reportedly consists of mechanical parts utilized in military vehicle systems, meant for delivery to Elbit Systems Land, an operating division of Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems.

​For its part, Air France issued a denial on Thursday regarding any prior booking for the shipment, adding that the carrier strictly refrains from shipping weaponry or munitions to Israel.

​Addressing the situation on Thursday, France’s Foreign Ministry stood by the nation’s military export framework, clarifying that military-grade parts bound for Israel are authorized for export only if they are strictly intended for defensive operations or meant to be integrated into equipment slated for export to third-party nations.

​A ministry representative stated that France strictly adheres to its international commitments and that all military hardware exports undergo stringent monitoring and verification regarding their final application.