While the war continues to rage in the Gaza Strip and President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute on Wednesday to the victims of Hamas, the capital was surprised to discover Monday morning that a giant tag of the Palestinian flag covered the entirety of a staircase connecting the Sacré-Cœur basilica to a square.
Another “Free Gaza” graffiti was spotted on a wall not far away.
The news quickly sparked reactions on social networks.
CAPJPO, a French association campaigning for the recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people, notably congratulated the authors of this “splendid decoration” on its X account.
Nice surprise, this Monday morning, for tourists and residents of Montmartre, with this splendid decoration of one of the stairs leading to the Sacré-Coeur!
Well done to all these street painters!
Palestine will live!#Palestine_Genocide #PalestinianLivesMatter… pic.twitter.com/4ly6hewQL8
— CAPJPO - EuroPalestine (@Europalestine1) February 5, 2024
The radical left media outlet, Contre Attaque, also applauded the initiative, calling it a “creative and daring action in the heart of the French capital, in one of the world centers of imperialism.”
Conversely, Internet users such as this contributor to the far-right news site Boulevard Voltaire, were outraged by this gesture, raising the question of the image that this tag sent to visitors to the capital.
“Our dear tourists are well received in France,” she quipped.
🔴 At the Basilica of Montmartre, a flag of #Palestine as well as a “Free Gaza” tag were inscribed on the stairs leading to the monument.
Our dear tourists are well received in #France.
pic.twitter.com/2LK0XVamyg
— Inès Chopard (@InesChopard) February 6, 2024
The town hall of the 18th arrondissement confirms having been informed of the facts on Monday morning.
The tag was removed by the municipality only on Wednesday morning, two days later.
In Marseille, only a few weeks ago, the emblematic staircase of the Cour Julien had also been painted twice in the colors of Palestine, before being quickly cleaned.