STRASBOURG: French European Parliament member Rima Hassan is facing an investigation after an incident involving Israeli and European Union flags at an exhibition commemorating victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Hassan was filmed allegedly throwing the Israeli flag to the floor and that the EU flag and a flagpole also fell during the incident.
Metsola said the allegations were being taken “extremely seriously” and that appropriate procedures, including giving Hassan an opportunity to respond, were underway.
Hassan’s staff disputed the account, saying she removed the Israeli flag from its stand while leaving the exhibition and that the EU flag, attached to the same base, fell accidentally. They said neither flag was damaged or trampled.
Hassan said her action was intended to protest Israeli government policies and was not directed at victims of the October 7 attack.