French‑Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan faces terrorism charge over a tweet and challenges the two‑state narrative — UnionPress

The European Parliament member has been summoned to court for allegedly glorifying terrorism after reposting a militant quote, while she leads a parliamentary group that questions the viability of a two‑state solution for Israel‑Palestine.

Rima Hassan, the French‑Palestinian member of the European Parliament for La France Insoumise, will appear before a French court in October on a charge of "glorifying terrorism". The accusation stems from a March 2026 repost of a quotation by Japanese militant Kōzō Okamoto, who was involved in a 1972 attack on an Israeli airport. The quote reads: "As long as there is oppression, resistance will not only be a right, but a duty."

Hassan, 34, says the complaint was filed by the French state and argues that it is a politically motivated attempt to curb her freedom of expression as an elected representative. "Immunity exists to protect MEPs' speech," she told reporters, adding that no other European deputy has ever been prosecuted for a tweet.

Since taking her seat in the European Parliament in 2024, Hassan claims to have faced 22 separate legal proceedings. The latest case follows a series of incidents that have seen her detained by Israeli forces in 2025 while trying to deliver aid to Gaza on the Global Sumund flotilla, and repeatedly targeted by online harassment and accusations of supporting Hamas.

Legal experts note that French anti‑terrorism legislation can be applied to expressions deemed to praise violent acts, even when the original source is a historical figure. "The law is deliberately broad," says Dr. Claire Dubois, a professor of criminal law at the University of Paris. "It gives prosecutors discretion to interpret any endorsement of resistance as extremist, which raises concerns for parliamentary immunity."

Hassan's defence team argues that the quote was shared in the context of a broader debate on the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict, not as an endorsement of violence. "The intention was to highlight the moral dilemma faced by oppressed peoples," says her lawyer, Julien Moreau. "It does not constitute a call to arms."

While the court case proceeds, Hassan is steering a working group within La France Insoumise that seeks alternatives to the Oslo‑based two‑state framework. The group, composed of academics and policy analysts, plans to publish a set of proposals in September that envision a single, binational state encompassing Israelis and Palestinians.

"In reality, there is only one state," Hassan told a press briefing. "The two‑state solution has become a two‑state problem, a diplomatic dead‑end that masks the ongoing occupation."

Her stance has drawn criticism from EU officials who continue to endorse a two‑state outcome as the cornerstone of European foreign policy. A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that "the political courage to move beyond the Oslo paradigm is limited" but warned that any shift could jeopardise the EU's role as a mediator.

Human rights organisations have welcomed Hassan's push for a new framework. Amnesty International Europe released a statement saying that "the continued reliance on a two‑state narrative ignores the lived reality of Palestinians and hinders accountability for alleged war crimes."

If the court upholds the charge, it could set a precedent for limiting the speech of MEPs on contentious foreign‑policy issues. The European Parliament's legal service has indicated that it will monitor the case closely, noting that any erosion of immunity could affect the ability of deputies to scrutinise government actions without fear of prosecution.

"Parliamentary immunity is a safeguard for democratic debate," says MP Anna Müller of the German Greens. "Using anti‑terrorism statutes to silence a member over a historical quote would be a dangerous step back for free speech in Europe."

Conversely, representatives of the French interior ministry argue that the law must be applied uniformly, regardless of a person's political status. "No one is above the law," a spokesperson said. "If a statement can be interpreted as praising terrorism, it must be investigated."

Born to Palestinian asylum‑seekers in a refugee camp in northern Syria, Hassan grew up in France and has been active in pro‑Palestinian and pro‑democracy demonstrations long before entering the European Parliament. She describes herself as an activist‑politician, insisting that "politics without conviction is merely administration."

Her experience on the ground includes the 2025 arrest by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The incident, which drew condemnation from several European NGOs, reinforced her resolve to challenge what she sees as the EU's complacency regarding the conflict.

Hassan also faces regular threats, both online and in the streets, where she has been labelled a spokesperson for Hamas and an anti‑Semite. She says these attacks are part of a broader pattern of repression aimed at silencing voices that question the EU's perceived complicity in the ongoing violence.

"There is a widespread phenomenon of repression that targets people who denounce the European Union's complicity, and the complicity of our member states, in the genocide that is currently taking place," she asserted.

Despite the hostility, Hassan continues to serve on the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, where she advocates for stronger EU measures to protect civilians in the occupied territories.

The upcoming court date will be watched closely by civil‑society groups, legal scholars, and fellow MEPs. The outcome could influence how far European legislators can go in critiquing foreign policy without risking criminal prosecution, and whether the EU will entertain a serious re‑examination of the two‑state paradigm that has dominated diplomatic discourse for three decades.