From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 17, 2026
6 environmental campaigners arrested on suspicion of flying Palestinian flag from Eiffel Tower
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleFrench authorities have arrested six people suspected of flying a Palestinian flag from the Eiffel Tower without permission, a police source says.
Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion France claims responsibility for draping the large flag from the tower’s first floor on Friday afternoon.
A representative says it was sending a “message of support” to Palestinians, accusing Israel of carrying out “massacres” in Gaza, as well as “ecocide crimes” including uprooting olive trees on Palestinian land.
The stunt was to coincide with Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.
The flags of both Israel and Palestine, as well as peace images of a dove and olive branch, were in September projected onto the Eiffel Tower, ahead of France recognizing the Palestinian state.
In October 2023, after Palestinian terror group Hamas carried out deadly attacks on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, the tower was lit up with the Israeli flag.
#WATCH: Activists hang a Palestinian flag on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, with police arresting six people for the stunt #France #Palestine https://t.co/PkZakFYunQ pic.twitter.com/tXq0tBDl4h
— Arab News (@arabnews) May 16, 2026
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