It’s published •update
French leftist MEP Lima Hassan maintains Israeli custody and was awaiting a hearing on Tuesday before an Israeli judge after being detained the day before alongside seven others.
Hassan was part of the “Free Fleet,” a group of activists that set out from Catania, Italy on June 3rd.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said water and sandwiches were being provided to the crew of the Madreen ship, but Hassan’s team said no water or food was provided during the 16-hour journey to Ashdod Port after distribution of sandwiches, which were briefly filmed during the arrest.
The 12 Freedom Flotilla members were then presented with documents urging them to recognize that they had entered Israel’s territory illegally. Signing means immediate expulsion, while refusal will be taken before the judge.
Four of them chose their first choices, including Swedish activist Greta Samberg, Spanish Sergio Toribio, two French nationals, Baptist Andre and Omar Fired.
However, eight others refused to sign the document, claiming that the Fleet of Freedom had been intercepted in international waters and had refused to assert that it had entered illegally.
These eight are now in custody waiting for a new hearing before an Israeli judge, and the Israeli judge could order his expulsion in the next few days.
Hassan’s parliamentary immunity guarantees her freedom of expression and protects her from legal action arising from EU member states, but does not apply outside of EU territory.
The MEP team condemned the document presented as a “propaganda operation aimed at justifying illegal arrests and detention,” claiming it was “a blatant violation of her parliamentary immunity.”
“I strongly assert that their humanitarian mission to Gaza is legal, necessary and urgent. The arrest violates international law. Detention is illegal and arbitrary,” he also reads a statement from Hassan’s team.
The European Parliament told Euroneus on Tuesday that President Roberta Metosora was in constant contact with Israeli authorities to ensure Hassan’s safety and security.
“We will remain in touch with all parties 24 hours a day until it is resolved safely,” a council spokesman said.
Have any other MEPs been detained?
This is not the first time that a MEP has been detained in a third country.
In February 2025, three MEPs were detained, all from the left group, Isabelsera (Spain), Katarina Martins (Portuguese), and Jussis Salamo (Finland), and were subsequently exiled from El Aan, the main city of the territory of the western Sahara.
“The European Parliament always argues that all members are kept safe and treated with respect as elected representatives of European people everywhere in the world,” the Parliament also said in a statement to the Euroneus.
Her detention and the fit of the fleet of freedom have become a provocative political issue in France and Brussels.
French bowed has announced an appeal seeking the immediate release of passengers and lifting Israeli lockdown in Gaza.
Its leaders, Jean Reque Mellencheon and MEP Manon Aubrey, also called for urgent intervention from President Macron and Europe and international organizations, declared they were moral responsibility to protect these activists. According to Melenchon, a rally they organized in Paris to protest detention on Monday and Israeli actions in Gaza attracted tens of thousands.
In the European Parliament, the Left, Socialists and Democrats and the Green/European Freedom Alliance co-signed a statement calling for a statement to ensure that all activists are released.
