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.