From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Paris awards honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians, journalists
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The City of Paris grants honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians and journalists, in a symbolic gesture of support for “the suffering the Palestinian people.”
“Honorary citizenship is not just a symbol, but a commitment to peace. We are extending a hand to an entire people,” Emmanuel Gregoire, the capital’s Socialist mayor, says before the Council of Paris.
He speaks in the presence of the Palestinian representative in France, Hala Abou-Hassira, who receives a long round of applause.
“Recognizing the suffering of the Palestinian people in no way erases that of the Israeli people,” says Gregoire.
“We will never forget October 7, 2023,” he adds in a reference to the Hamas-led attack that began the Gaza war, stressing that the French capital had earlier granted honorary citizenship to the hostages held by the terror group.
A resolution adopted by the Council of Paris says “the humanitarian situation of Gaza’s population remains dramatic.”
The political right votes against the resolution, pointing to a resurgence of antisemitic acts in France.
Last week, Paris hosted a meeting of Palestinian and Israeli civil society groups, who urged global leaders to take urgent action and help implement a permanent ceasefire.
France as well as Britain, Canada and several other countries, recognized a Palestinian state last year over Israeli objections. Paris has earlier bestowed honorary citizenship on the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
The Times of Israel Community.