The accusation against Venezuela hides the historical responsibility of the Panamanian justice system for the impunity surrounding the attack on a passenger plane carrying Jewish individuals, now activated amid naval blockade in the Caribbean, aiming to bolster the narrative of a state that protects terrorism.
Reported by: La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform, 9 NOV 2025
The Panamanian Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday blaming the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the alleged impunity that has supposedly protected Lebanese national Ali Hage Jalil for three decades, who has been linked by the FBI since 2020 to the attack on flight 901 of Alas Chiricanas in 1994.
In the official text, the Panamanian government expressed its “deep concern” and described it as “unacceptable” that, after thirty years, the suspect has not faced justice. The declaration insists that the omission lies with Venezuela, without mentioning that it was Panama who detained him in 1994 and released him without charges, closing the door on any potential judicial investigation against him.
Impunity Granted in Panama
– After the attack that claimed the lives of 21 people, Hage Jalil was detained by Panamanian authorities but was quickly exonerated.
– Since then, there has been no open case or judicial restrictions against him.
– Official documents demonstrate that the citizen maintained business activities in Panama, including the company AINDEA S.A., registered in 2013 in the Panama Emprende system, dedicated to food, beverage, and tobacco trading.
Delayed Reactivation of the Investigation
– The case against Hage Jalil was reopened only in October 2019, according to news reports.
– In 2020, the FBI issued a bulletin requesting public information about his whereabouts, confirming his link to the attack.
– By then, it was known that he resided on Margarita Island, Venezuela, yet neither Panama nor Interpol activated search mechanisms.
Five Years of Waiting for Capture
– Only in 2025 did Interpol’s red notice get activated, allowing for his immediate capture in Venezuela.
– The five-year delay raises questions about the political will of Panama and enhances the perception that the case’s reactivation seems more driven by geopolitical interests rather than a genuine commitment to justice.
International Context
The timing of the investigation’s reactivation coincides with naval deployments against Venezuela and narratives that seek to associate the country with a supposed “axis of evil” led by Iran. This strategy appears to aim at reinforcing the idea that Venezuela is a haven for terrorists, despite the fact that the real impunity originated in Panama.
Conclusion
The weight of official and commercial documents reveals that Ali Hage Jalil was never actually hidden: he lived and operated freely in Panama as well as in Venezuela. The accusation against Venezuela, rather than being an act of justice, seems to serve as a political tool that obscures the historical responsibility of the Panamanian state itself.