Citizen Diplomacy for Palestine: French Cities Lead Moral Stand Against Gaza Genocide

Watan-Under the title “Palestine… Citizen and Popular City Diplomacy!”, Philippe Rio wrote in a column for the French newspaper L’Humanité that recognizing the State of Palestine and acknowledging the genocide in Gaza is an urgent necessity to protect the Palestinian people. He pointed to emerging political initiatives such as Spain’s effort to build a bridge between Europe and the Arab world.

Rio cited Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who said:”The evidence of this genocide is everywhere. I am not the only one asking: what more must Israel do before the world acts?”

He added that alarm bells from intellectuals and humanitarian organizations are growing louder, yet the ethnic cleansing machine against Palestinians continues, aided by the U.S. under Donald Trump and weapons shipments from Western countries, especially Germany and the U.S.

 Israeli Government Mocked for Weaponizing Humanitarian Aid

According to Rio, the extremist and nihilistic Israeli government led by Netanyahu mocks world leaders by organizing food distribution operations that turn into disasters—described by the UN as “a drop in the ocean”.

As hunger spreads through Gaza and Palestinians die under relentless bombardment, international action remains paralyzed by American power. But grassroots, citizen-led city diplomacy is already in motion, Rio asserts.

On May 17, the third conference on Palestinian refugees was held in Paris, organized by the Association for Twinning between Palestinian Camps and French Cities (AJPF). The event hosted 40 Palestinian refugees and numerous French municipal authorities. Amid efforts to erase Palestinian identity and humanity, this form of city diplomacy restores dignity and visibility to the Palestinian people, writes Rio.

Twinning Aida Camp and Grigny: Grassroots Diplomacy in Action

One of the participants, Saeed A., considered the “mayor” of Aida refugee camp, has a twinning relationship with the city of Grigny, a Paris suburb where Philippe Rio himself is mayor. Saeed was the guest of honor at the municipal council, met with local actors in sports and culture, and collaborative projects are now underway in fields like sports, water access, cultural exchange, and French language education.

Saeed was also celebrated by 800 people in a street march, including many youth. He was joined by Anas A., who had previously missed the inauguration of Aida Street in Grigny due to being held in Israeli administrative detention for six months without trial or charges.

“In a time when the logic of force dominates international relations,” Philippe Rio concludes, “our city-based diplomacy is not selective. It is inclusive, principled, and rooted in solidarity.”