In a powerful gesture of solidarity, the Palestinian flag was raised over the town hall of Saint-Denis, a working-class suburb of Paris, on Monday morning. The mayor declared that the act symbolised France’s recognition of a Palestinian state and was meant to stand against the horrors unfolding in Gaza. He described the massacres as intolerable and stressed that solidarity must go hand in hand with concrete measures, including European sanctions.

The move comes amid a growing wave of recognitions. Following the announcements by Britain, Canada, Portugal, and Australia over the weekend, the number of countries recognising Palestine has risen to 153 out of 193 UN member states. Further declarations are expected from several European and non-European nations, including Malta, Luxembourg, Belgium, and New Zealand.

For many in France, the raising of the flag above a town hall is more than symbolic, it is a demand for action. While recognition is spreading across the globe, the urgency lies in ensuring that it does not stop at symbolism but translates into pressure strong enough to halt the devastation endured daily in Gaza.