Palestinian flag hung on Eiffel Tower

Extinction Rebellion France said its activists hung a large Palestinian flag from the Eiffel Tower’s first floor in Paris on Friday, and French police detained six people after the action. A police source said the display was carried out without permission. The group said it timed the protest to Nakba Day, the annual Palestinian commemoration of the 1948 displacement that accompanied the creation of Israel. The flag was visible from the Champ de Mars below before police intervened, according to French media and wire reports. ### How did the flag end up on the Eiffel Tower? Friday afternoon’s action was claimed by Extinction Rebellion France, which said it draped the flag from the tower’s first floor. Le Parisien reported that police were alerted shortly before 5 p.m. local time after the flag was seen on the monument. (leparisien.fr) A representative of Extinction Rebellion France said the protest was intended as a “message of support” to Palestinians. AFP and other outlets carrying its report said the group accused Israel of carrying out “massacres” in Gaza and of committing environmental damage on Palestinian land. ### Why did the activists say they chose that date? May 15 is observed by Palestinians as Nakba Day, marking what they describe as the “Great Catastrophe” of 1948. (leparisien.fr) Anadolu reported that the Eiffel Tower action was staged during the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. Le Parisien said the group described the protest as a way to “commemorate the sad anniversary of the Nakba.” The paper said the reference was to the period when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the creation of the state of Israel. (nampa.org) (aa.com.tr) ### What did police do, and what are the detainees accused of? French authorities detained six people after the flag was unfurled, according to a police source cited by AFP. The source said the six were suspected of flying the flag from the Eiffel Tower without authorization. Anadolu, citing police, said the detainees were suspected of entering a protected area without authorization. (leparisien.fr) Le Parisien reported that the custody grounds also included allegations linked to endangering others’ safety. ### Has the Eiffel Tower been used for political displays before? (straitstimes.com) In September 2025, the flags of both Israel and Palestine, along with peace symbols including a dove and olive branch, were projected onto the Eiffel Tower. The New Arab reported that the display came ahead of France’s recognition of a Palestinian state. That earlier projection was an official illumination rather than an unauthorized protest action. (aa.com.tr) The distinction became part of the reaction to Friday’s arrests, with later coverage noting that critics compared the two episodes. ### What happens next for the six people detained? (newarab.com) French prosecutors were expected to receive a formal complaint after the arrests, Anadolu reported, though it was not immediately clear who would file it. As of Saturday, public reporting did not show any formal charges announced against the six. (anews.com.tr) Saturday’s next step was custody review and a possible complaint to prosecutors, according to the police account carried by French and international media. Further details on any prosecution are likely to come from the Paris prosecutor’s office or French police statements. (leparisien.fr) (aa.com.tr)