Born to Palestinian asylum seekers in a Syrian refugee camp, Hassan has consistently treated her role in the European Parliament as an extension of her activism rather than administrative labor. Since her 2024 election with La France Insoumise, she has faced 22 legal proceedings, including a pending trial for “glorifying terrorism” that has been postponed until October. Hassan argues that these state-led actions against her represent an unprecedented erosion of parliamentary immunity, creating a chilling effect for those who challenge the European Union's stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Rima Hassan: The MEP challenging the European consensus on Palestine
“As long as there is oppression, resistance will not only be a right, but a duty.” For French MEP Rima Hassan, these words—reposted on social media—have transformed her political career into a series of legal battles, highlighting a deepening friction between parliamentary immunity and the criminalization of pro-Palestinian advocacy.
Beyond the courtroom, Hassan is pushing to dismantle the long-standing diplomatic commitment to a two-state solution, which she dismisses as a “two-state problem” that no longer reflects reality. With the death toll in Palestinian territories exceeding 74,000 since October 2023, she characterizes the continued adherence to the Oslo Accords as a form of political cowardice. Starting in September, she intends to lead a research group tasked with developing alternative frameworks. Despite persistent accusations of antisemitism and claims that she acts as a spokesperson for Hamas, Hassan maintains that her criticism is directed at systemic complicity, asserting that she remains independent even from the Palestinian Authority.
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