The repercussions of French MP of Palestinian origin Rima Hassan removing an Israeli flag during an event at the European Parliament commemorating 7 October have escalated after activists circulated a video showing a man carrying a rifle and making direct threats against her. The MP stood by her position and criticised what she described as the European Parliament’s disregard for crimes committed against Palestinians.
The video showed a man whom those circulating it identified as a French supporter of Israel, wearing an Israeli flag over his shoulder, while a French flag appeared behind him. He addressed Hassan, saying: “Rima, do you want to remove this too?” he said, pointing to the Israeli flag. “Come and take it. How can you honestly do this in front of images of the victims of 7 October? Are you still deluded?”
“You are mocking people, supporting terrorism and publicly insulting everyone you consider your enemy.” The man continued, issuing a direct threat to the MP: “Honestly, be careful of the day someone decides to target you. You will be the victim, and then do not come crying.” The video circulated after Israeli and European reactions to Hassan’s actions inside Parliament.
French calls for an investigation into the threat
The video sparked widespread anger on social media, where users questioned the French Interior Ministry about what measures could be taken against the person shown in it. Followers also urged Hassan to file an official complaint, stressing their rejection of threats being made against a European Parliament MP through social media.
Legal experts and activists said French law punishes death threats directed at a parliamentary MP with a sentence of up to five years in prison, in addition to a substantial fine. They said the video recording constituted material evidence that could be used to verify the content of the threat and the identity of its author.
Potential penalties for threatening an MP
The reactions also extended to criticism of the French press, with activists accusing it of applying a double standard in its coverage and questioning why the armed threat had not received the same attention as the campaign Hassan faced after removing the flag. One person wrote: “Which French media outlet has the courage to publish an article about this? No one.” Other commenters called for those responsible for the threat to be tried, saying: “These criminals must be prosecuted.”
“How can we be safe in France while thousands of child-killers are among us?” Some followers expressed solidarity with Hassan. One supportive comment read: “Full solidarity and unconditional support for Rima; the flag of this state that is committing genocide belongs nowhere but in future museums that will document the genocide of the Palestinian people at the hands of Zionists and their Western allies.”
Criticism of coverage and solidarity with Hassan
Hassan responded to the campaign against her through a series of posts explaining her position. She compared displaying the Israeli flag with displaying the Russian flag, saying: “No one here would accept displaying the Russian flag, and it is entirely natural to oppose that, particularly in view of the crimes Russia is committing.”
The MP reaffirmed her position on Israeli practices, saying: “Israel – whether you like it or not – is committing genocide today, and the crime of apartheid, which is a crime against humanity.”
Her response came as the video continued to circulate and controversy continued over her actions during the event marking 7 October.
