Choas in French parliament as Palestinian flag lifted

PARIS: Left-wing lawmakers in the French parliament caused uproar by displaying the Palestinian flag during a session.

A member of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party Rachel Keke waved the Palestinian flag in the French parliament. The display made the president of the French parliament Yaël Braun-Pivet to sanction Keke and temporarily suspend the session.

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This incident occurred a week after another LFI member, Sebastien Delogu, faced similar repercussions for brandishing the Palestinian flag. The parliament suspended Delogu from his duties for two weeks and reduced his parliamentary allowance by half for two months.

Rachel Keke has been a member of the French National Assembly since 2022. She is a member of far-left La France Insoumise and rose to prominence for her leadership in a successful strike by housekeepers at a hotel in Paris. Keke is famous in France for her advocacy for better pay and improved working conditions for the working class.

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated his readiness to recognize a Palestinian state. However, he was quick to note the “importance” of timing and cautioning against decisions driven solely by “emotion.”

Israeli atrocities in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 36,000 Palestinians since October of last year. Among the victims, more than 15,000 Palestinian children have lost their lives due to Israeli military actions and relentless bombardments.

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According to international media reports, Jabalia has been reduced to nothing but rubble in the days following Israel’s bombardments. Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to warn of the looming threat of mass famine amidst the humanitarian crisis in the occupied region.