The world is marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Hamas — a day that shocked Israel to its core and reverberated across the region and beyond. Meanwhile, the war against Hamas in Gaza continues to produce a human catastrophe, with tens of thousands dead and no clear path to peace.
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At the European Parliament in Strasbourg, tensions erupted at a commemorative event, with French MEP Rima Hassan accused of kicking an Israeli flag to the ground. She denied throwing down the flag but only removing it from its stand. Also she explained on X:“My gesture is part of the denunciation of the ongoing genocide, of violations of international law, and of this incessant and unbearable double standard: a Russian flag would never be admitted within the institution’s premises. The State of Israel, which is a partner in this event through its embassy, continues to enjoy total impunity.”
After the incident, Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, told Europe Editor Maria Tadeo that the episode reflects a growing problem of antisemitism in France.
Watch the interview on the player above.