European Parliament Member Rima Hassan Removes Israeli Flag From Exhibition

Witnesses and fellow lawmakers, including François-Xavier Bellamy, accused Hassan of throwing the flags to the ground, with some alleging she trampled and vandalized them. Video of the incident circulated on social media, prompting outrage from several members of parliament who called for immediate sanctions. The European Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee also demanded a full investigation, describing the act as a profound contempt for the victims of the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Hassan's office confirmed she removed the Israeli flag as a protest against the policies of the Israeli government, but claimed the EU flag fell accidentally due to a loss of balance and denied that any flags were stepped on or damaged. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the act as shameful and insolent, stating it demonstrated Hassan's lack of respect for the European Parliament. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced that she is taking the accusations very seriously and has initiated disciplinary proceedings, stating that Hassan will be required to provide explanations before a final decision on sanctions is made.