Who is Rima Hassan, European Parliament MP accompanying Greta Thunberg to Gaza
Israel intercepted the Gaza bound Freedom flotilla and prevented the activists onboard from reaching the blockaded Palestine territory. The boat named Madleen embarked from the Sicilian port of Catania from June 1 to deliver aid to Gaza. Among those onboard the ship are Rima Hassan, French-Palestinian member of European Parliament.
Born Rima Hassan Mobarak in Aleppo, Syria, she is a French jurist and politician. At the age of nine she arrived in France and settled with her family in Niort. After becoming an adult, she obtained french nationalisty and started pursuing studies. She studied in University of Montpellier, until 2014 and pursued studies in law and obtained her bachelor's degree. For masters in international law she went to Panthéon-Sorbonne University.
Also read: Greta Thunberg's Freedom Flotilla 'attacked'? Crew claims drones dropped white substance on them
In 2019, Hassan founded the 'Refugee Camps Observatory', an NGO dedicated to the study and protection of refugee camps worldwide. Hassan joined the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) in 2016 and and after 18 months, she worked at the National Court of Asylum Law. In 2023, she joined La France Insoumise to contest the 2024 European Parliament election and was elected to the European Parliament on 9 June 2024.
Currently, she serves as a member of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, and the Delegation for Relations with Palestine.
Hassan has been vocal about the conditions of refugees and has voiced concerns about the health and security effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in refugee camps. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, she has also been critical of the actions taken by Israel. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, she expressed her view on the Israel Palestine war saying that the creation of a democratic bi-national state is the solution to the conflict. On 24 February 2025, Hassan was denied entry to Israel as part of an EU-Palestine delegation, with Israeli authorities citing her support for anti-Israel boycotts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
March to Gaza: Tunisia activists launch Gaza-bound convoy in 'symbolic act'
Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday (June 9, 2025) a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to "break the siege" on the Palestinian territory, activists said. Organisers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather aimed at carrying out a "symbolic act" by breaking the blockade on the territory described by the United Nations as "the hungriest place on Earth". The "Soumoud" convoy, meaning "steadfastness" in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, "by the end of the week", activist Jawaher Channa told AFP. It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits, she added. "We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way," said Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organising the caravan. "Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there," she said. Channa said the convoy was not set to face issues crossing Libya, "whose people have historically supported the Palestinian cause", despite recent deadly clashes in the country that remains divided between two governments. Algerian, Mauretanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts, before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt. After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy. But on Monday (June 9, 2025) morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory. The UN has warned that the Palestinian territory's entire population is at risk of famine.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Greta Thunberg's aid boat carrying baby formula, rice diverted by Israeli forces; here's what happened
The escalating violence in Gaza has plunged the region into what many describe as a catastrophic humanitarian nightmare. Despite numerous ceasefire agreements, efforts to allow humanitarian aid into the blockaded territory have been massively unsuccessful. As global leaders struggle to intervene meaningfully, a familiar young voice has risen to challenge the status quo. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist known for her environmental advocacy, has now shifted focus to humanitarian aid. Greta boarded the ship Madleen alongside a group of activists, determined to deliver crucial supplies to Gaza's suffering population. But late last night, chilling footage emerged showing Greta speaking firmly to the camera. In her message, she revealed a harrowing reality where she and her team were 'intercepted and kidnapped in international waters' by 'forces that support Israel,' she stated. 'I'll urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.' The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded on X, assuring the public that the activists were safe and unharmed. 'The 'selfie yacht' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are safe and were provided with sandwiches and water, and are expected to return to their home countries,' stated the tweet. Nevertheless, Greta's assertion marked a serious escalation in the already tense humanitarian mission. Over the weekend, the Israeli military warned that they would'take whatever measures are necessary' to prevent the Madleen from breaking the blockade. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also said that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition should turn back, and that the country would act against any attempt to breach Israel's sea blockade around the territory. Despite the threats, the activists aboard the Madleen were seemingly prepared for confrontation. Israel had preemptively warned that the Madleen would be stopped before reaching Gaza, so this blockade is not unprecedented. Just a month ago, another aid vessel, the Conscience — also part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition — was reportedly struck by Israeli drones off Malta, forcing the ship into flames and injuring four civilian volunteers. While the Israeli government claimed it was investigating the incident, the NGO running the flotilla described the attack as a suppression of humanitarian efforts in international waters. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the Madleen's journey, is a grassroots solidarity movement committed to ending what it calls the 'illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza'. Founded in 2010, the coalition emphasises its independence from political factions or governments, focusing purely on civil society cooperation. The Madleen itself is named in honour of Gaza's first female fisherwoman. Departing Sicily on June 1, the ship carried significant cargo — symbolic quantities of rice, baby formula, and essential supplies meant to fight against the devastating food shortages facing Gazans. Greta's involvement adds an unprecedented dimension to this conflict. Known for rallying global youth around the climate emergency, she now channels that same passion into demanding justice and relief for Gaza's besieged people. As the Madleen remains in Israeli custody, the eyes of the world watch closely.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
‘Antisemitic Greta…': Israel says will screen Oct 7 raid videos for ‘her Hamas-supporting friends'
After Israeli authorities diverted the Gaza-aid ship carrying prominent activists, including Greta Thunberg, the country's Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the activists will be shown footage from the October 7 attack read more Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz , said that he has ordered the country's military to show Greta Thunberg and other activists footage of the October 7 attacks after the Jewish nation gained control of the Gaza-bound vessel. The ship called Madleen was carrying aid for the Gazans who were stuck in the middle of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Earlier on Monday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said that the British-flagged yacht Madleen - operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC)- was intercepted by the Israeli authorities and is 'making its way to the shores of Israel.' The ministry made it clear that all passengers onboard were safe and unharmed, sharing a video of the Israeli soldiers giving aid and water to the activists on board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD אני מברך את צה"ל על ההשתלטות המהירה והבטוחה על משט "מדלן" כדי למנוע מהם לפרוץ את הסגר ולהגיע לחופי עזה. הנחיתי את צה"ל להקרין בפני נוסעי המשט את סרטון הזוועות של טבח ה-7 באוקטובר כאשר יגיעו לנמל אשדוד. ראוי שגרטה האנטישמית וחבריה תומכי החמאס יראו בדיוק מיהו ארגון הטרור חמאס… — ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 9, 2025 In a post on X, Katz said that he has instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to show the activists footage of atrocities committed during the October 7 attacks when they arrive at Ashdod Port. 'I congratulate the IDF for the quick and safe takeover of the 'Madlan' flotilla to prevent them from breaking the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza. I instructed the IDF to show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod,' the Israeli defence minister said in the post. Katz calls Thunberg 'anti-semitic' In his statement, Katz slammed the activists involved in the endeavour , especially calling out climate activist Greta Thunberg. 'Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organisation, which they came to support and act on behalf of, truly is,' he said. 'They should see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children, and understand whom Israel is fighting to defend itself,' he added. The Israeli foreign ministry made it clear that all those on board the ship will be deported to their respective home countries. All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They also maintained that humanitarian aid abroad would be transferred to Gaza through established channels. The Israeli authorities have been referring to Madleen as a 'Selfie yacht', calling the prominent activists 'celebrities'. Meanwhile, FFC claimed that the passengers on the yacht had been 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' and released pre-recorded messages from them after previously saying that the 'Israeli army had boarded' the vessel. The vessel with a dozen activists onboard set from Sicily on May 1 on a mission aiming to break Israel's sea blockade. With inputs from agencies.
