François-Xavier Bellamy, a French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Les Républicains (LR), has accused Rima Hassan of knocking over Israeli and European Union flags during a memorial event at the European Parliament dedicated to victims of the October 7, 2023 attack. Bellamy made the allegation on social media platform X, posting a photograph showing the flags lying on the ground.
According to Bellamy, witnesses have confirmed seeing Hassan commit the act, and he suggested that surveillance footage from the Parliament could provide further evidence. As of Monday evening, no surveillance recordings have been made public.
During a session in the parliamentary chamber, Bellamy called for immediate sanctions against Hassan, labeling her actions as “disgraceful.” He stated that the alleged incident was an affront to both the European Union and the memory of the victims.
Pina Picierno, an Italian MEP who organized the memorial exhibition, also criticized Hassan’s actions, accusing her of prioritizing “five minutes of fame over the most basic decency.” Picierno claimed that Hassan turned a solemn tribute into a “photoshoot” by allegedly bringing cameras to the event. She accused Hassan of exploiting the victims’ photographs for self-promotion and of promoting antisemitism.
Further accusations came from other lawmakers, with LR MEP Céline Imart stating that Hassan had “trampled on and vandalized” the flags.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, referred to the incident as a “double indecency,” emphasizing the importance of establishing the facts. He remarked, “This is not just a provocation, but a desecration.”
As discussions continue in the European Parliament regarding the incident, no official response from Hassan or additional details about the potential investigation have been released.
