Rima Hassan denounces 'political and judicial harassment' over Israel criticism

What Happened

French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan is facing trial on 7 July for 'apology for terrorism' after posting a quote on X by Kozo Okamoto, convicted for the 1972 Lod airport attack. Hassan said the quote referenced the right to resist occupation under international law and deleted the post to avoid misunderstanding. This is one of 16 judicial proceedings initiated against her in two years; 13 were dismissed. She was detained for over 13 hours on 2 April despite parliamentary immunity, and investigative measures included retroactive phone surveillance and requests for travel data from SNCF, Thalys, Europol, and Air France. During her detention, false narcotics allegations were leaked to the press, allegedly by the French justice ministry spokesperson.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The case illustrates intensifying legal and political censorship of pro-Palestinian expression in France, conflating criticism of Israel with apology for terrorism. It tests parliamentary immunity protections and the boundaries of free speech on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with potential precedent-setting implications for transnational advocacy and EU-level responses.

Watch For

The verdict in Hassan's trial on 7 July; outcomes of her institutional complaints against alleged investigative abuses; reactions from EU bodies regarding immunity; and statements from Palestinian or international rights groups on the wider chilling effect.