Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
A left-wing politician was suspended from the French parliament for two weeks on Tuesday after he held up a Palestinian flag during a heated debate over whether France should recognise Palestinian statehood.
Sebastien Delogu, a politician for the radical left France Unbowed (LFI) party from the southern city of Marseille, stood up with the flag during questions to the government.
Parliament speaker Yael Braun-Pivet denounced his actions as unacceptable behaviour, and politicians voted to suspend him for two weeks and cut his parliamentary allowance by half for two months.
Mr Delogu left the lower chamber making a V-sign for victory, as right-wing and centrist politicians inside applauded the sanctions against him.
His suspension came on the day Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised Palestinian statehood in a co-ordinated decision that has infuriated Israel.
Their move means 145 out of the 193 UN member states have recognised a Palestinian state.
But no member of the Group of Seven industrial powers – including France, the UK and the US – has done so.
Students stage Gaza war protest at Paris Sorbonne university – in pictures
-
A protester makes a victory sign during a rally in support of Palestinians at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Monday. AFP -
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator holds a placard. EPA -
French police stand guard at the Sorbonne. EPA -
French police face pro-Palestinian demonstrators. EPA -
Demonstrators wave a large Palestinian flag outside the Sorbonne. EPA -
A demonstrator shows her red-painted hand. EPA -
Demonstrators carry a huge Palestinian flag. EPA -
Protesters chant during the rally. AFP -
Students shout slogans during the rally at the Sorbonne. AFP -
Protesters and police officers face each other during the rally. AFP -
French police with riot gear. EPA -
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators tried to set up a protest camp before being removed by police. EPA -
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators face French police at the Sorbonne. EPA -
Demonstrators gather outside the Sorbonne University. EPA -
Students shout slogans and wave. AFP -
Pro-Palestinian students gather outside the university. EPA -
Students block the entrance to the Sorbonne University. Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron in February said recognising a Palestinian state was no longer “taboo”.
But Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in the lower house on Tuesday dodged a question from another LFI member of parliament about whether France would soon join its European allies in doing so.
The Israel-Gaza war has created tensions in France, which has the largest Jewish community of any country after Israel and the US, as well as Europe's biggest Muslim community.
