Since Tuesday, 40 members of the collective “7 October Côte d’Azur” have adorned the city of Nice with ribbons. Yellow ribbons were scattered throughout downtown Nice to call for the return of the 136 hostages held by Hamas.
Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7th during a music festival, a nationwide collective “7 October” was formed. In Nice, three friends, Catie-Anoune Lelouche, Hélène Achouche, and Philippe Samak founded the collective “7 October Côte d’Azur” with the aim of reminding everyone about the memory of the victims and the plight of the hostages.
“Whether one is pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli, it doesn’t matter, the immediate and unconditional return of the hostages must be allowed. That’s the message we want to convey. What’s happening is horrific,” says Philippe Samak, the co-founder. According to him, the release of the hostages could be a way to ease the conflict.
“Yellow Ribbon” Operation in the City
During this joint action, several monuments symbolizing the city of Nice were specifically targeted. The main idea was to make an impression. The “I Love Nice” sign, the blue chairs, the dove in front of Notre-Dame church, and the war memorial were among those adorned with ribbons. “Nice is a city already scarred by terrorism. Placing ribbons on the symbols of Nice is also a reminder that terrorism, here or elsewhere, is the same; it involves the same horrors, the same killings, the same massacres.“
In downtown, many traffic lights and poles have been decorated with yellow ribbons. Other “blue flower” operations are expected to take place again. However, the collective states that they do not want “aggressiveness or disrespect towards any community, population, or idea.” The goal is to remind people of the need for the return of the hostages and their suffering.
But Why Yellow Ribbons?
Yellow ribbons hold a certain significance. They first appeared over 20 years ago during the war between Iraq and the United States to support American hostages. “Used again by the Israeli collective, these ribbons are now distributed and worn by the families of hostages or by people advocating for the return of the hostages. The idea is to remind people of the urgent need to bring them back,” declares Philippe Samak.
This movement has spread across the globe and has been followed by some celebrities. Chris Froome notably called for all bicycles to carry a yellow ribbon to advocate for the return of the hostages.
The collective also expressed surprise at the reaction of the local population. While the collective expected to possibly face some aggression or simple verbal abuses, Philippe Samak says they witnessed solidarity. “Some people offered to help us, others placed ribbons in our stead; the response was favorable.“
To support or participate in the Nice-based collective “7 October Côte d’Azur,” applications can be found on the Facebook page, collective 7 October Côte d’Azur.
