Six held after Palestinian flag is unfurled on Eiffel Tower

PARIS: French authorities have arrested six people suspected of hanging a Palestinian flag from the Eiffel Tower without authorisation, a police source said on Saturday.

The large flag was unfurled from the monument’s first floor on Friday afternoon. Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion France said it was behind the action.

A representative of the group said the display was intended as a message of solidarity with Palestinians. The representative accused Israel of carrying out massacres in Gaza and of committing ecocide crimes, including the uprooting of olive trees on Palestinian land.

According to the group, the action was timed to coincide with Nakba Day, which commemorates the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.

Action linked to Nakba Day

The incident took place against the backdrop of annual observances marking Nakba Day. The commemoration refers to the displacement of Palestinians in 1948 during the establishment of Israel.

The Eiffel Tower has previously been used for symbolic displays related to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. In September, the flags of both Israel and Palestine were projected onto the landmark, along with peace symbols including a dove and an olive branch, ahead of France recognising the Palestinian state.

The latest action, however, led to arrests after the Palestinian flag was displayed from the tower without permission, according to the police source.

French authorities have not publicly detailed further allegations in the case beyond the suspicion that the six detainees were involved in unfurling the flag from the Eiffel Tower.

Extinction Rebellion France’s claim of responsibility placed the protest within a broader political message tied to Gaza and Palestinian land. The group said the banner drop was meant to express support for Palestinians on a date of particular significance in Palestinian history.

The arrests came after the flag was seen hanging from one of the world’s most recognisable monuments, drawing attention to the protest and its timing.