French authorities have arrested six people after a large Palestinian flag was unfurled from the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a pro-Palestinian demonstration linked to Nakba Day commemorations.
Police sources said the arrests followed Friday’s display of the flag from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower without official authorization. Climate activist movement Extinction Rebellion France later claimed responsibility for the action.
The group described the protest as a “message of support” for Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Activists accused Israel of carrying out “massacres” and environmental destruction in Palestinian territories, including the uprooting of olive trees.
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The demonstration coincided with Nakba Day, observed annually by Palestinians to mark the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948.
Photos and videos of the flag hanging from one of France’s most recognizable landmarks quickly circulated online, sparking fresh political debate over the Israel-Gaza conflict and the use of public monuments for activism.
French authorities have not publicly identified the suspects or confirmed what charges they could face. Officials also did not immediately clarify whether the case would lead to prosecution for unauthorized use of the Eiffel Tower or violations linked to public order laws.
The Eiffel Tower has repeatedly become a symbol in demonstrations connected to the Middle East crisis since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Following the Hamas attacks on Israel in 2023, the monument was illuminated with the Israeli flag in solidarity with victims of the assault. Israeli authorities say the attacks killed about 1,221 people, mostly civilians.
Since then, pro-Palestinian protests have spread across France and other European countries as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened. Gaza health authorities say more than 72,700 people have been killed during Israeli military operations launched after the Hamas attacks.
The conflict has remained politically sensitive in France, which is home to both Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities. French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly called for ceasefire efforts while maintaining support for Israel’s security concerns.
In September, the Eiffel Tower again became a focal point in the debate when the flags of Israel and Palestine, along with peace symbols including a dove and olive branch, were projected onto the landmark during renewed discussions over possible French recognition of a Palestinian state.
Security around demonstrations linked to the Middle East conflict has remained heightened in Paris amid fears of unrest and rising political tensions.
The latest arrests are likely to intensify debate in France over political activism, freedom of protest, and the use of national monuments for global political causes.
