This act coincides with France’s upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly
In a bold display of solidarity, numerous French mayors have raised Palestinian flags on their town halls, defying a government directive ordering their removal. This gesture precedes France’s anticipated move to join several Western and European nations in officially acknowledging a Palestinian state.
According to the Ministry of the Interior’s latest update on Monday morning, 21 municipalities had already displayed the Palestinian flag, despite Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau-affiliated with the right-wing Republicans party-urging local authorities to maintain “neutrality.” It is expected that many more local governments will follow suit in this symbolic act.
This wave of flag-raising was sparked by a call from Olivier Faure, leader of France’s Socialist Party, who sharply criticized Retailleau’s stance as “outrageously inappropriate” and demanded the outgoing minister, who recently resigned, step down immediately.
Faure expressed his dismay, stating, “It is regrettable that the minister chose to reprimand mayors who are simply fulfilling their duty of solidarity. How can such an act be condemned when the atrocities occurring in Gaza remain unchallenged?”
Aujourd’hui, j’étais aux côtés du maire @MathieuHanotin et @faureolivier à #SaintDenis pour hisser le drapeau palestinien sur la mairie.#Palestine #ONU pic.twitter.com/4Nimsz1NGZ
– Stephane Peu (@stephane1peu) September 22, 2025
[[Translation: On this historic day, I stood alongside Mayor @MathieuHanotin and @faureolivier in #SaintDenis to raise the Palestinian flag at the town hall.]
Jacqueline Belhomme, the communist mayor of Malakoff, a suburb of Paris, raised the Palestinian flag last Friday and refused to comply with police orders to take it down, denouncing the directive as a “prefectural overreach.”
Speaking to the Associated Press, Belhomme emphasized the symbolic importance of the gesture, likening it to the earlier display of the Ukrainian flag in support of Ukraine amid Russian aggression.
Johanna Rolland, Socialist Party mayor of Nantes, expressed her approval of France’s decision to recognize Palestine in a post on X, stating, “Nantes stands in solidarity with this historic step by the French Republic by flying the Palestinian flag for the day.”
Karim Bouamrane, mayor of a Paris suburb, shared on X that “Many of us have long advocated for this moment,” adding, “In Saint-Ouen, we proudly display the Palestinian flag on the town hall’s facade.”
France’s announcement to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly arrives amid nearly two years of Israel’s devastating conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 65,000 Palestinian deaths and left hundreds of thousands wounded.
The pursuit of a ceasefire in Gaza is expected to be a central topic during the upcoming summit of global leaders in New York.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot defended the recognition, framing it as a “clear repudiation” of Hamas and a significant diplomatic achievement for France amid mounting international pressure.
Conversely, Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally party, condemned the move as a “grave error,” asserting in a local media interview that “Emmanuel Macron is recognizing the Hamastan, not Palestine.” Mathilde Panot, a prominent figure in the left-wing France Unbowed party, accused Le Pen of endorsing the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister, urged national leaders to acknowledge the “humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza” as they proceed with Palestine’s recognition.
