French lawmaker Rima Hassan faces strong criticism and a parliamentary investigation after being accused of knocking down Israeli and European flags at a memorial display.
The incident took place on Monday outside the main chamber of the European Parliament during an exhibition commemorating the victims of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, announced on Tuesday that the institution is treating the matter with extreme seriousness. Speaking in the assembly chamber, Metsola stated that a member of parliament had been filmed apparently damaging an exhibition set up to honor victims of the 2023 Hamas-led attacks.
Metsola confirmed that parliamentary authorities have launched an official review of the incident. She added that standard internal procedures are being followed, which includes giving the lawmaker involved the opportunity to be formally heard before any decision is made.
Hassan defends her actions
Responding to the allegations, the office of Rima Hassan stated that she had already provided her explanation to parliamentary authorities shortly after the event occurred. Her team strongly denied that any flag had been trampled or intentionally destroyed.
According to a statement from her staff, Hassan intentionally removed the Israeli flag from its stand as a political protest. The European Union flag, which was mounted on the same base, fell accidentally due to the imbalance created when the Israeli flag was detached. Her team insisted that neither flag suffered physical damage.
Her entourage stated that the action was taken to denounce the ongoing military campaign and genocide conducted by the Israeli government in Gaza. They emphasized that the gesture was in no way aimed at the victims of the October 7 attacks or intended to disrespect their memory.
Political reactions in Europe
Rima Hassan is a French-Palestinian lawyer and activist who was elected to the European Parliament in May 2024 representing La France Insoumise, a prominent French left-wing political party founded by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. She has been a vocal critic of Israeli military policy in the Middle East.
The incident drew sharp criticism from political opponents within the European Parliament. French right-wing MEP François-Xavier Bellamy condemned the act, saying it showed complicity with political forces seeking to import antisemitic hatred into Europe.
Nathalie Loiseau, a French MEP from the centrist Renew Europe group, wrote on social media platform X that Hassan had trampled an Israeli flag just days before the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Loiseau accused Hassan's political party of reaching extreme levels of indecency.
Next steps in the investigation
A spokesperson for the European Parliament confirmed that an official analysis of the facts is underway. A parliamentary source indicated that Hassan will be required to explain her actions before parliamentary leadership decides whether to impose any disciplinary sanctions, such as a formal reprimand or penalty.
