Old pro-Palestinian rally misinterpreted as 'victory rally' after 2024 French elections

What is the claim? 

A video of people holding the Palestinian flag and protesting at a public square is being shared on social media platforms, with claims that it shows a victory rally held in France following the announcement of 2024 French Legislative election results. The 2024 French legislative elections, held on June 30 and July 7, saw the French Left coalition win most of the seats with no party securing a majority, resulting in a hung parliament.

One Facebook user shared the video with the caption, "The victory rally for the new French government has more Palestinian flags than French flags." Archives of similar posts can be viewed here and here. The video is also widely being shared on X (formerly Twitter) with similar claims, and the archives of those can be found here, here, and here. 

Screenshots of viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/ Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the video in question is unrelated to the elections. Instead, it shows a Pro-Palestinian rally held in Lyon, France, on June 1, 2024, which explains the presence of Palestinian flags in the viral clip.

What did we find?  

A reverse image search of the viral clip led us to multiple posts (archived here and here) shared on X that carried the viral video, stating it depicts a pro-Palestinian rally held in Lyon on June 1, 2024. These posts show that the video pre-dates the French election results, which were announced on July 7, 2024. 

A Google search led us to a report published by French media outlet France 3 on June 1, 2024. The report stated that hundreds of people protested at Place Bellecour, Lyon, in support of Palestine calling out for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. It also included a video showing protesters holding a Palestinian flag, and the location in the video matches the viral clip.

Comparison between the viral clip and the video published by BFM Lyon. (Source: X/ BFM Lyon/ Screenshot) 

Multiple other local media outlets, such as BFM Lyon and Lyon Capitale, also reported on these protests, noting that they were organized by Collectif 69, a community group in Lyon supporting the Palestinian people.

Similar demonstrations were also held in other parts of France, such as Paris and Bayonne, and across Europe in support of Palestine demanding the immediate cessation of airstrikes in Gaza. 

The verdict

A pro-Palestinian rally held in Lyon is now being falsely portrayed as a victory rally in France following the legislative elections, claiming that it includes more Palestinian flags than French flags.