BRUSSELS – French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan questioned European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi on Tuesday regarding the implementation of EU aid to Palestinians, focusing on the potential for funds to be used for purposes inconsistent with humanitarian law. Hassan, representing La France Insoumise (LFI), raised the issue during a session of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, according to a post on her official Instagram account.
The inquiry centered on the European Commission’s commitment to ensuring that financial assistance reaches Palestinian civilians without indirectly supporting activities that could be construed as violating international legal norms. Hassan specifically pressed Várhelyi on mechanisms in place to prevent EU funding from being diverted or misused, a concern that has gained prominence amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Hassan’s questioning follows a period of heightened scrutiny over EU aid policies in the Middle East. The MEP, elected to the European Parliament in June 2024, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution. Born in a Syrian refugee camp near Aleppo in 1992 and arriving in France at the age of nine, Hassan obtained French citizenship in 2010 and holds a master’s degree in international law from Panthéon-Sorbonne University. She founded the Refugee Camps Observatory in 2019 and the Action Palestine France collective in 2023.
Commissioner Várhelyi’s response to Hassan’s questions was not immediately available. The European Commission has previously stated its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians while upholding strict conditions to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of funds. Though, concerns persist among some MEPs regarding the effectiveness of these safeguards.
The exchange occurred as the European Parliament continues to debate the broader strategic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Stéphane Séjourné, the current French Commissioner, and Teresa Ribera of Spain, are among the key figures shaping the EU’s policy in the region, alongside Kaja Kallas of Estonia and Maroš Šefčovič of Slovakia, all members of the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.
Recent controversies surrounding Hassan’s political positions have led to calls for a review of her parliamentary immunity by a group of Renaissance party deputies in the French National Assembly, according to reports in the French-language Wikipedia. These calls stem from her statements regarding Hamas and the conflicts in the Middle East, which have sparked significant debate within the European Parliament and in France.
As of March 3, 2026, the European Commission has not publicly responded to the request for a review of Hassan’s immunity. The Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to reconvene next week to discuss further steps regarding EU policy in the Middle East, with no specific agenda items related to Hassan’s inquiry currently published.
