Paris: France's Interior Ministry has instructed prefects to prevent the display of Palestinian flags on town halls and other public buildings on Sept. 22, the day Paris is expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine, local media reported on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, in a telegram sent Thursday, the ministry emphasized that the principle of public service neutrality "prohibits such flag displays," asserting that they would be tantamount to "taking sides in an international conflict," which is under the exclusive authority of the state.

The ministry further expressed concerns over "importing an ongoing international conflict into the national territory," as reported by TF1 Info. It warned of the potential for "serious disturbances to public order identified locally."

Prefects were directed to intervene against such flag displays, and in cases where mayors refuse compliance, to bring the issue before administrative courts. This directive follows a call from Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure for municipalities to hoist the Palestinian flag on September 22, coinciding with President Emmanuel Macron's scheduled co-chairing of a UN conference on the two-state solution with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The meeting in New York, where Paris and several other countries are expected to formalize their recognition of the Palestinian state, coincides with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. French courts have recently ordered municipalities in Gennevilliers, Mitry-Mory, and Besancon to remove Palestinian flags from town halls after local mayors defied neutrality rules.