"This is an unprecedented diplomatic scandal," Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party France Unbowed, said in response to the removal of European Parliament member Rima Hassan from Israel. "Israel is dismissive of elected representatives of the European Union and damaging diplomatic relations," Mélenchon added in an official statement.
He further wrote that "Israel's conduct once again proves its contempt for international law and democratic values. When a country prevents a visit by elected representatives whose purpose is to examine the humanitarian situation, it admits that it has something to hide."
Mélenchon added: "Netanyahu's government fears European eyes that would see the crimes being committed in Gaza. Hassan's removal is a transparent attempt to silence critical voices and prevent international oversight."
Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament from Mélenchon's party, was removed Sunday from Ben Gurion International Airport upon her arrival in Israel as part of a European Union delegation. According to Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, the decision to remove Hassan was made based on her positions supporting boycotts against Israel.
In response to her visit being canceled, Hassan published a series of tweets claiming that the Israeli Foreign Ministry had approved the delegation's arrival back in January. "This country is so disorganized that the Israeli Foreign Ministry approved the composition of the delegation and its program back in January until the Interior Ministry canceled our entry the moment we arrived at the airport," Hassan wrote.
She claimed that the visit was part of an official mission approved by Israeli authorities, who had the list of participants and the visit program for two months. She added that the delegation "included parliament members from several political groups."
Hassan, who belongs to the far-left party "France Unbowed," is known for her critical positions toward Israel. In the past, she referred to Hamas as a "resistance movement" and justified the actions carried out on Oct. 7. Following her removal, Hassan was forced to return to Brussels instead of continuing to a series of planned meetings in the Palestinian Authority, as originally scheduled.
Referring to reactions to her removal, Hassan wrote: "Pro-Israeli trolls lie exactly like the murderous state they defend. Israel's egocentricity is as excessive as its propaganda."
