The Eiffel Tower displayed a symbolic peace message on Sunday evening, projecting both Palestinian and Israeli flags connected by a dove carrying an olive branch. The unannounced illumination began at 9 PM on September 21st and was scheduled to continue until 11:45 PM, according to Paris city officials who own the monument. The projection appeared on a large screen mounted on the iconic tower, visible to pedestrians and motorists circulating near the landmark.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo confirmed the display was timed to coincide with France's planned official recognition of the Palestinian state on Monday. In a message on the social media platform Bluesky, the socialist mayor wrote that "Paris supports the initiative carried at the United Nations by the President of the French Republic for the recognition of the State of Palestine." She emphasized that "Paris reaffirms its commitment to peace which more than ever requires the two-state solution," accompanying her statement with a photograph of the illumination.

The symbolic gesture comes amid political divisions within France regarding the display of Palestinian flags on municipal buildings. Several mayors across France have indicated their intention to fly the Palestinian flag on their town halls on Monday, despite warnings from Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. The minister has instructed prefects to refer the matter to administrative courts if such displays occur, citing previous court orders requiring the removal of Palestinian flags from town halls due to violations of public service neutrality principles.

The political tension reflects broader debates about how local governments should position themselves regarding international conflicts. While some officials argue against "importing the Near East conflict" through symbolic gestures, others maintain that displaying the Palestinian flag represents support for diplomatic recognition efforts. The Eiffel Tower projection attempts to navigate this divide by presenting both flags united by peace symbolism, aligning with France's official diplomatic position supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.