A Zionist member of France's parliament proposed criminalizing all criticism of "Israel," which has provoked an outcry among activists and lawmakers.

Caroline Yadan, a member of the French National Assembly, will propose legislation that, among other things, prohibits "the denial of the State of Israel," and restricts free speech like using the phrase "from the river to the sea," during pro-Palestine rallies. 

In a statement on X, European legislator Rima Hassan wrote that "Israel" "deserves criticism," because it has "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."

French poet and novelist Jean-Philippe Cazier called the effort a way to " suppress the freedom of thought, criticism, and writing," stating on X that Yadan is looking to "prevent condemnation of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.”

Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, also remarked that if there is just one regime "that deserves criticism, it is Israel."

Hassan detailed how the Israeli occupation "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."

Tensions between France and the Israeli occupation have been high after Emmanuel Macron repeatedly urged nations to halt weapon deliveries to "Israel" if those arms are utilized in Gaza and Lebanon. He also stated privately that Netanyahu should not "ignore United Nations decisions" because "his country was created by a U.N. decision," remarks that prompted outrage from Netanyahu. 

Palestinian student stripped of visa for Gaza speech wins appeal vs UK

Recently, Palestinian student Dana Abu Qamar won a human rights appeal, revoking the UK Home Office's decision to strip her of her visa for speaking about Gaza and its resistance. 

The Guardian reported that the Home Office claimed that Dana's presence was "not conducive to public good" but subsequently failed to prove it after her visa was revoked in December 2023.

Dana first caught the attention of authorities during a protest organized at the University of Manchester, where she also leads the Friends of Palestine Society. While speaking to Sky News, Dana explored Gaza's historical resistance against the Israeli "oppressive regime", as well as the 16-year-long blockade the occupation has imposed, calling the Strip's Resistance "a once in a lifetime experience." 

"And everyone is, we are both in fear, but also in fear of what, how Israel will retaliate and how we’ve seen it retaliate overnight, and the missiles that it’s launched and the attacks, but also we are full of pride. We are really, really full of joy of what happened," she also said. 

The decision to revoke her visa followed intervention by former immigration minister and Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick.

Additionally, the tribunal found that she was not an extremist and that her description of the Israeli occupation as an "apartheid state" was consistent with several human rights organizations. Using statements such as "actively resisting" and "broke free" during her speech was also related to the lawful acts of Resistance in Gaza. 

According to Abu Qamar, the ruling set an important precedent that validates the right "to voice support for human rights for the plight of Palestinians and the right to resist occupation."

She also expressed her shock at Jenrick's intervention, suggesting it highlights a broader issue with a politicized approach to immigration and security decisions. 

Regarding the government's crackdown, she described it as "so brutal", saying it felt like she was losing everything in a single second for defending her people's right to resist. 

Precedent in Germany

A similar incident was recorded in Germany, when a Berlin court convicted pro-Palestine activist Ava Moayeri, a 22-year-old German-Iranian national, for the "crime" of leading the chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," back in October. 

The presiding judge, Birgit Balzer, ordered Moayeri to pay a 600 euro fine. While the 22-year-old's defense team argued that the conviction was a violation of free speech, the judge rejected Ava's argument, exhibited by chants of expression against injustice in Gaza and for peace in the Middle East.

Balzer argued that precedents documented in different courts that describe the slogan as "ambiguous" were incomprehensible, considering the chant a declaration against the "right of the State of Israel to exist."

Balzer said the chant was particularly problematic and controversial in Germany, which considers support for the Israeli occupation a matter of "Staatsräson", or reason of state, as the nation bears responsibility and guilt for the Holocaust. 

Moayeri’s legal team defended the slogan as part of the Palestine solidarity movement and denied any antisemitism.