Some French mayors have defied government orders and flown Palestinian flags on town halls, with more expected to follow suit as France prepares to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly.

Saint-Denis Mayor Mathieu Hanotin, left, and French Prime Minister Jean Castex participate in a wreath laying ceremony, marking the 5th anniversary of the Nov. 13, 2015 attacks outside the stadium Stade de France in Saint Denis, near Paris, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. In silence and mourning, France is marking five years since 130 people were killed by Islamic State extremists who targeted the Bataclan concert hall, Paris cafes and the national stadium. (Christophe Archambault/Pool Photo via AP)PARIS – In silence and mourning, France marked five years since 130 people were killed by Islamic State extremists who targeted the Bataclan concert hall, Paris cafes and the national stadium in a series of coordinated attacks. It led to intensified French military action against extremists abroad and a security crackdown at home. The ceremonies came as France is again under high alert for terrorist attacks after three Islamic extremist attacks since September have killed four people.