Paris awards honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians and journalists
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The City of Paris granted Thursday honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as to Palestinian journalists.
This symbolic gesture expresses solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict.
The decision was announced during a session of the Paris City Council and supported by the left-wing majority.
Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, a Socialist, stated, “Honorary citizenship is not just a symbol, but a commitment to peace. We are extending a hand to an entire people.”
The Palestinian ambassador to France, Hala Abou-Hassira, attended the session and received applause.
The honorary status confers no legal rights but serves as a moral and political statement. Paris has previously extended similar honors, including to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv since the program's inception in 2001.
The resolution highlights the humanitarian situation in Gaza, noting significant civilian casualties since October 2023, including a high number of children, and the prolonged blockade.
It also recognizes the risks faced by journalists, with reports citing approximately 252 Palestinian journalists killed by ‘Israel’ in the conflict zone.
The proposal was advanced earlier in May 2026 by Mayor Grégoire and Deputy Mayor Audrey Pulvar.
