Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire granted honorary citizenship of the city to civilians of Gaza and the West Bank and to Palestinian journalists during a ceremony on June 18, 2026. The Paris City Council voted 107-41 with three abstentions to approve the measure.

The Paris City Council meeting to confirm the honorary citizenship took place on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Gregoire had stated his intention to grant honorary citizenship to Palestinians in May 2026. The proposal received support from the left-wing bloc within the council and opposition from the Right.

Gregoire hosted the Ambassador of Palestine and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan for the ceremony marking the granting of citizenship. "The honorary citizenship of Paris is not a symbol; it is a commitment," Gregoire said. He addressed the new honorary citizens, stating, "To the civilians of Gaza and the West Bank, to the families, to the children, to the doctors who treat the wounds of war, to the teachers who hold classes in the rubble, to the journalists who seek to report on this deadly conflict: Paris tells you that you are honorary citizens of our city."

The mayor also commented on the role of cities in global affairs. "When states fall silent, cities can remain guardians of principles," Gregoire said. He added, "Today, Paris reaffirms that every human life is sacred." He compared the action to prior city initiatives, stating, "As we did for Kyiv and Nagorno-Karabakh, Paris stands for the rights and voices of those who are suffering while defending peace, international law, and the two-state solution."

For more than 20 years, the City of Paris has awarded honorary citizenship to people who are "threatened, imprisoned, or prosecuted because they defend human rights and fundamental freedoms." The official announcement on the Paris City website noted that honorary citizenship was granted to Israeli hostages held by Hamas in February 2024. France recognized a Palestinian state in 2025. Palestinian and Israeli flags were projected onto the Eiffel Tower following France's recognition of the state of Palestine in September 2025.