The City of Paris on Thursday granted honorary citizenship to Palestinian civilians and journalists, in a symbolic gesture of support for “the suffering of 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 Grégoire, the capital’s mayor, said before the Council of Paris.
He spoke in the presence of the Palestinian representative in France, Hala Abou-Hassira, who received a long round of applause.
“Recognising the suffering of the Palestinian people in no way erases that of the Israeli people,” said Grégoire.
“We will never forget October 7th, 2023,” he added, stressing that the French capital had earlier granted honorary citizenship to the hostages of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
