It all happened on the social network X, formerly Twitter, on August 22. Aymeric Caron, MP for the 18th constituency of Paris affiliated with La France insoumise (LFI), posted a message in which he asserted that the attacks of October 7 were indeed “terrorist acts”. A clear position, which was made to the detriment of MEP Rima Hassan. Indeed, the post by the founder of the micro-party Ecological Revolution for the Living is a response to the new darling of the pro-Palestinian movement. Two hours earlier, the activist published on the same social network, a post in which she stated that “the majority of the world outside of Western hegemonic thought, no one links October 7 (sic) to terrorism.”
Until the formation of the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance – the day after the announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly by the President of the Republic – La France Insoumise stood out from other left-wing political parties in its position on the attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, which cost the lives of nearly 1,200 people.
This initial refusal by the rebels to describe the attacks as “terrorist” had, moreover, led to the death of Nupes – the former parliamentary coalition of left-wing parties. But, following negotiations between the different components of the NFP – Europe Ecologie les Verts, the French Communist Party, the Socialist Party and La France Insoumise – the parties had all agreed, on June 14 in their “break” program, for the release “of the hostages held since the terrorist massacres of Hamas, whose theocratic project we reject.”
Rima Hassan, in dissent with the NFP on the Palestinian question
Rima Hassan’s publication is a complete break with the position adopted since June 14 by the alliance of left-wing parties. By wanting to place the assault by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades – the armed wing of Hamas – in a context of “occupation and colonization of Palestine that have continued since 1948”, the Franco-Palestinian is returning to the former position of the Insoumis.
On October 11, during a conference held in Bordeaux, Jean-Luc Mélenchon explained his refusal to characterize Hamas attacks as “terrorist”. “By characterizing them in this way, we are removing them from international law,” he assured, preferring the term “war crimes” which, according to him, would allow a judgment before the International Criminal Court. Because for the Leader Maximothese attacks take place in the context of war between Israelis and Palestinians.
It was seeing Rima Hassan break with the line set by the NFP that pushed Aymeric Caron to reframe his comrade. At least that is how he justified himself to Taha Bouhafs, who came to the rescue of the rebellious activist. The proximity of the latter – a former candidate in the 2022 legislative elections – with the MEP is illustrated by the trip they made to Jordan on August 16 to show their support for the Palestinian cause.
The man who became known for publishing the videos of the Benalla affair accuses Aymeric Caron of “the nerve it takes to publicly reprimand a Palestinian woman who is a member of [son] political group, when we know the harassment she is receiving.” A long exchange between the two personalities followed. Caron highlighted “the harassment he has been subjected to for 10 months”, Bouhafs accused him of being more “zealous concerning Rima than other comrades who talk shit (sic)”. The group is definitely living well…