French court orders Nice municipality to remove Israeli flags from city hall

A French court on Thursday ordered the mayor of Nice to remove Israeli flags from the city hall's facade, ruling that the gesture was a political statement that contradicted the principle of neutrality in public services.

The Administrative Court of Nice said that displaying the flag cannot be seen only as a "symbol of support for Israeli [captives] held by Hamas", but also as "support for the Israeli state and thus as an expression of political opinion".

The court has ordered mayor Christian Estrosi to remove the flags, which were displayed since 7 October 2023, within five days.

"I have been forced, by a court decision, to remove the Israeli flags from the town hall. I naturally respect and comply with my country's judicial decision, but I refuse to equate an Islamist terrorist movement with a humanitarian gesture," Estrosi wrote on X.

The mayor said he will "continue to devote [his] energy to fighting all forms of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism", echoing similar statements by pro-Israel figures that appear to conflate the two concepts.

The flags have since been taken down and have been replaced by images of the captives held in Gaza and of two French prisoners in Iran who have been held since May 2022.

Since the Hamas-led 7 October, 2023 attack on Israel, pro-Israel activists have often used the images of the captives taken on that day as a rallying call for their cause. Pro-Palestinian activists have highlighted that Israel holds over 10,000 Palestinians in their prisons, many without charge or trial.

France has maintained a close relationship with Israel, asserting the state's alleged "right to self-defence" following the 7 October attacks.

However, tensions have been brewing between the two countries, with President Emmanuel Macron recently denouncing Israel's "egregious" actions in Gaza and saying that France could soon recognise a Palestinian state.