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French Towns Raise Palestinian Flags as Jewish Groups Across the West Decry Premature ‘Palestine’ Recognition
Palestinian flags fly over French town halls as municipalities defy a government ban ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s planned recognition of a Palestinian state. Photo: Screenshot
More than 50 municipalities across France defied an Interior Ministry order on Monday, raising Palestinian flags on their facades ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement recognizing a Palestinian state later in the day.
The contentious gesture came after Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure urged mayors last week to raise Palestinian flags over town halls in support of Macron’s initiative and opposition to the war in Gaza.
However, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau asked mayors not to follow through with such gestures, citing the principle of neutrality in public services and warning that these violations would be referred to administrative courts.
“There are enough divisive issues in the country without importing the conflict in the Middle East,” the French official wrote in a post on X.
Several French town halls have been forced to take down Palestinian flags following court rulings.
En ce jour historique, j’étais présent ce matin aux côtés du maire @MathieuHanotin et @faureolivier à #SaintDenis pour hisser le drapeau Palestinien au fronton de la mairie.#Palestine #ONU pic.twitter.com/4Nimsz1NGZ
— Stephane Peu (@stephane1peu) September 22, 2025
On Monday, Macron announced France’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, joining other Western countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” Macron said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the UN. “The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel.”
Macron outlined a plan for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a Gaza ceasefire, and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in the enclave.
Yet, a majority of the French people oppose an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, with 71 percent rejecting any recognition before the release of all remaining Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and the surrender of Hamas, according to a newly released survey.
On Friday, 20 French Jewish leaders issued a joint letter to Macron urging him to recognize a Palestinian state only after the release of all remaining hostages and the dismantling of Hamas, warning that any other approach would be “capitulation in the face of terrorism.”
“While France has prudently refrained from any recognition of a Palestinian state since 1948, pending the establishment of conditions for peace and mutual security, how can it justify doing so while the war triggered by the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust is still raging?” the letter said.
“Recognition … before the fulfillment of the conditions you have set out would be claimed as a symbolic victory for Hamas, which would only worsen the murderous stranglehold it imposes on the Palestinians,” it continued.
Other Western countries have argued that recognizing a Palestinian state now would be premature. Germany, for example, has said it will recognize Palestinian statehood only “at the end of the process” of a negotiated two-state solution.
“For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. But this process must begin now,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday.
“A negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity,” he continued.
Italy has also announced that it will not recognize a Palestinian state at this time.
Supporters of the recognition argue that this move would actually undermine Hamas’s control, noting that the terrorist group has never supported a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and would likely oppose a Palestinian state since it would have no governing role.
However, Hamas has repeatedly praised such plans to recognize a Palestinian state as “the fruits of Oct. 7,” citing the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as the reason for increasing Western support.
Israeli and US officials have strongly opposed recognizing a Palestinian state, warning that such a move would only reward terrorism, hinder Gaza ceasefire negotiations, and embolden Hamas.
According to Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, this initiative by several Western countries overlooks Israeli public sentiment, which he says dooms the plan before it begins.
“Without Israelis believing a Palestinian state makes them more secure, this proposal is performative and delusional,” Satloff wrote in a post on X.
“And since Israel’s hostages will still be held under Gaza when all these diplomatic big-wigs leave New York, [Macron’s] plan will only invite ridicule and disgust among Israelis, making the idea of statehood more distant than ever,” he continued.
The key missing actor that makes this a fool’s errand is not @POTUS or @netanyahu but #Israel public opinion. Without Israelis believing a #Palestinian state makes them more secure, this proposal is performative and delusional. And since Israel’s hostages will still be held under…
— Robert Satloff (@robsatloff) September 20, 2025
Jewish groups in Britain, Australia, Canada, and France have criticized their governments’ recognition of a Palestinian state, warning that such moves would embolden extremists and fail to advance peace.
The Australian Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision, calling it a reward for the Oct. 7 atrocities.
“This move emboldens Hamas, undermines peace efforts, prolongs the suffering of Palestinians under Hamas rule, and fuels global incitement against the Jewish people,” CIJA CEO Noah Shack wrote in a post on X.
“The government’s policy should be clear-eyed and focused on releasing the Israeli hostages, securing a ceasefire, and the removal of Hamas from power,” Shack added.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews strongly condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision, noting serious concerns within the local Jewish community.
“As we feared and warned, the way the UK has chosen to recognize a Palestinian state has done nothing to advance a ceasefire, free the hostages, stop the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, or advance long-term peace,” the statement read.
The Board of Deputies’ response to the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state pic.twitter.com/lLnDUO5FZX
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) September 21, 2025
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision, accusing him of departing from the long-standing policy of a negotiated two-state solution by taking a unilateral step.
“Unilateral recognition removes any incentive for the Palestinians to reform or return to negotiations,” ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said in a statement.
“If Australia wants to help, it should support Palestinians to reform and build their institutions, the foundations of any viable Palestinian state. That is how we should contribute to real peace, not by emboldening terrorists through empty symbolism,” Cassuto continued.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.