French MEP removes Israeli flag at European Parliament event

Paris,
French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan said on Tuesday that she removed an Israeli flag at a European Parliament event in France to protest the genocide in the Gaza Strip, violations of international law and what she called intolerable double standards.
Writing on the US social media platform X, Hassan said the incident took place on Monday, during an unofficial event organized with Israel’s diplomatic mission and the American Jewish Committee (AJC). She said the event has been accused of promoting colonization through visits by European lawmakers to the occupied territories. She added that wreaths displayed at the Strasbourg event carried a map of Israel that included Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, which she said ignores the EU’s long-standing diplomatic position. Hassan also said Israeli artist Yaron Bob, who was invited to the event, denied the existence of Palestine and Palestinians during an exchange.
“As I was leaving, I removed the Israeli flag from its stand,” Hassan said. “My action is part of a condemnation of the ongoing genocide, violations of international law, and this persistent and intolerable double standard.” She argued that a Russian flag would not be allowed into the European Parliament’s premises, while Israel, which she said was represented at the event through its diplomatic mission, continues to enjoy complete impunity.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, however, accused Hassan on Tuesday of damaging the exhibition and said the incident is being taken very seriously. “All appropriate steps are being taken in line with our procedures,” Metsola told lawmakers during the plenary session.
Hassan rejected the accusation. She explained that the EU flag, which was attached to the same base, fell as a result of the resulting imbalance. “No flag was trampled, damaged or thrown,” she said. She added that she has written to Metsola to present her account of the incident and, arguing that a lack of transparency can fuel “fake news,” asked her to act on journalists’ requests to release the videos.