EU Parliament spat as MEP challenges Metsola’s claims over Israeli flag

In Strasbourg, French lawmaker Rima Hassan criticized European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's assertion that Israeli and EU flags had been knocked over during a protest. Metsola had shared footage from Monday evening, showing a member of Parliament allegedly damaging an exhibition commemorating the October 7 attacks. According to Metsola, the individual was seen throwing an Israeli flag to the ground and knocking over a flagpole, while an EU flag was also knocked over.

She emphasized that the incident was taken very seriously and that "all appropriate steps" would be taken, allowing the individual to present their side of the story. Metsola affirmed that the Parliament would not accept property damage or actions that could be perceived as intimidation, especially during a time of rising global antisemitism. She did not specify any penalties or name the individual involved.

Hassan, representing the France Unbowed party and the European Parliament's Left group, challenged Metsola's claims as "factually false." She contended that the exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Israeli embassy and defended her stance against the display of the Israeli flag, likening it to displaying a Russian flag in light of Moscow's war in Ukraine.

A Parliament spokesperson acknowledged that the event was arranged with the European People’s Party but did not confirm the involvement of the Israeli embassy. They also alleged that the exhibition featured a map depicting "Greater Israel" and that organizers had stated that Palestine and Palestinians did not exist. These claims could not be independently verified at the time of the report.

The dispute followed accusations by French center-right lawmaker François-Xavier Bellamy, who claimed Hassan had thrown both the Israeli and EU flags to the ground and called for her to face disciplinary action. Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno also accused Hassan of disrespectfully trampling the flags. Hassan clarified in a statement that she had removed the Israeli flag from its stand, but the EU flag had unintentionally fallen over due to a loss of balance.

She assured that neither flag was damaged and wrote to Metsola to share her account. "I did not touch the European flag," she stated to the chamber. The exhibition was held in the lead-up to the third anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others.

Under the Parliament's rules, sanctions for serious breaches can range from a reprimand to the loss of daily allowances or temporary suspension from certain parliamentary activities.