EU Left Condemns Detention of French-Palestinian Lawmaker
(MENAFN) The Left faction within the European Parliament has strongly criticized Israel for detaining French-Palestinian parliamentarian Rima Hassan along with other activists aboard the humanitarian vessel Madleen, which was en route to deliver aid to Gaza.
The political group called for urgent action, stating: "European institutions must protect elected representatives from illegal detention and take immediate action to stop the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza."
The mission, intended to provide relief to the besieged Gaza Strip, was halted by Israeli military forces while still in international waters.
Following the interception, the participants were brought to the port city of Ashdod and then relocated to a holding facility near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
According to Israeli officials, those aboard the ship were accused of unlawfully entering Israeli-controlled territory.
Authorities reportedly pressured them into signing statements acknowledging this alleged breach, which would have led to immediate deportation and future bans from entering the country.
Although four individuals complied, citing personal reasons, eight others—including Rima Hassan—refused to sign, arguing that doing so would amount to validating an illegitimate detention.
The European Parliament’s Left bloc underscored that the seizure of the vessel constitutes a breach of international law.
They referenced a provisional ruling by the International Court of Justice issued 16 months earlier, mandating Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The group also highlighted that Hassan’s arrest violates her immunity as an elected member of parliament.
Refuting "Israeli claims of exemplary treatment," the group claimed that detainees endured significant hardship—being denied food and water throughout the 16-hour transfer to Ashdod and forced to stay on the open deck of the ship until nightfall.
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