Humanitarian Cause: How Operation al-Aqsa Flood Impacted European Parliament Elections

Traditionally, European Parliament elections have focused on issues like cost of living, agricultural policies, climate change, and EU immigration policy. However, this time, a new issue emerged prominently: the Palestinian cause.

Despite right-wing and far-right parties capturing roughly 40% of the seats in the European Parliament during the four-day elections that concluded on June 9, 2024, the impact of Operation al-Aqsa Flood was visible through the success of deputies advocating for the Palestinian cause.

Among them was Rima Hassan, the first Frenchwoman of Palestinian origin to become a member of the European Parliament, winning a significant seat among the ranks of the far-right in France.

Several small parties supporting the Palestinian cause and condemning Israeli atrocities in Gaza also won seats, thanks to European votes that supported Gaza and opposed the Israeli Occupation.

Additionally, veteran Swedish leftist politician Jonas Khustedt, a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, won a seat in the European Parliament after a campaign where he strongly advocated for Palestinians and called for sanctions against “Israel.”

Protests erupted across many European countries in support of Gaza and against Israeli aggression, leaving their mark on the election results with the victory of various smaller European parties that supported Palestinian rights.

Impact of Operation al-Aqsa Flood 

The Palestinian Communications Network in Berlin affirmed in reports on the European Parliament elections, obtained by Al-Estiklal that the Palestinian cause made its mark in the European Parliament elections.

Majed al-Zeer, CEO of the Palestinian-European Council for Political Relations (EUPAC) and Deputy Head of the General Authority of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, summarized the European Parliament's results from a Palestinian perspective on X. He highlighted the strong Palestinian presence and noted that “while the rise of far-right and conservative factions is clear, the significant pro-Palestinian representation remains pivotal for the future, despite the backdrop of European support for the Israeli occupation state.”

He also said that “in the previous European Parliament, only 21 out of 703 deputies supported Palestine in the face of European pro-occupation sentiment, underscoring the significance of this shift.”

However, the newly elected parliament included new elements. The La France Insoumise party, supportive of Palestine, secured at least 10 seats, including Rima Hassan.

In Sweden, 7 deputies supportive of Palestine were elected out of 21 (one-third), while in Denmark, 5 out of 15 (also one-third) deputies supportive of Palestine won seats. In Belgium, 5 deputies supporting Palestine won the minimum out of 22 seats.

In Italy, indications showed the election of 15 deputies supportive of Palestine out of 56, from parties that positively engage with the Palestinian cause, with 16% of them strongly supportive.

In Spain, the coalition led by the Prime Minister and his deputy, who support the Palestinian cause, won 26 out of 61 seats allocated to Spain.

Conversely, the atmosphere of support for Palestine and opposition to “Israel” was also a factor in the victory of Polish Deputy Grzegorz Braun, known for extinguishing a Hanukkah menorah in the Polish parliament in protest against the Israeli massacre in Gaza.

The public refusal of Israeli aggression on Gaza contributed to the loss of the Zionist Meyer Habib (of Tunisian origin) of his seat as a deputy in the European Parliament, after dedicating his hatred to incitement against Palestinians and Arabs.

Despite the victory of the Austrian party The Greens, in the European Parliament elections, supporters of Gaza embarrassed them by waving Palestinian flags during their celebration, condemning the party's support for “Israel,” which contradicts its claimed values of freedom and justice.

The Victory of a Palestinian

The victory of the French-Palestinian lawyer Rima Hassan and her entry into the European Parliament highlighted the impact of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on these elections. 

She considers Palestine a European issue, arguing that Europeans are responsible for the Palestinian issue, making it their own. Born in Syria, Rima Hassan won a seat in the European Parliament representing the leftist party La France Insoumise becoming a model for Arab and Muslim communities in France and Gaza supporters in general who opted for smaller parties backing the cause to amplify Palestinian voices in the European Parliament.

La France Insoumise secured 10 seats in the European Parliament, ranking fourth with 8% of the vote. Rima Hassan confronted both racists and Zionists, describing Israeli aggression against Gaza as "genocide" and endorsing the slogan "Palestine from the river to the sea." 

She faced significant political and legal pressures, accused by prominent figures like Artur of supporting "terrorism" and "anti-Semitism." Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, accused Rima Hassan of following a "Hamas agenda."

In an interview with Al-Jazeera on June 4, 2024, Rima Hassan asserted her commitment to championing the Palestinian cause in the European Parliament, viewing it as a European matter due to the division of the region after World War I by the French and British colonialists under the Sykes-Picot Agreement. Activists on social media consider her a "new powerful voice" joining those opposing the Israeli Occupation in the European Parliament.

Six Parties

Results of German parties in the European Parliament elections highlighted victories for Gaza supporters. New small parties in Germany, differing from the established major parties, aligned themselves with the Palestinian cause. They garnered support from Palestinians and freedom advocates, representing positions characterized by justice and human rights defense.

The Palestinian Communication Network in Berlin (PKN) confirmed in a statement on June 10, 2024, that it observed the success of 6 German parties supporting the Palestinian issue with significant voter support. The results indicated widespread popular support for Palestine, with pro-Palestinian parties securing substantial votes, reflecting a large sector of Europeans sympathizing with Palestinian rights and their desire for justice.

The network considered the victory of small German parties supporting Palestine as an important indicator of German public opinion regarding the Palestinian issue and the future of German foreign policy towards this conflict. It noted that the votes garnered by these parties supportive of Palestine signify a strong popular base advocating for Palestinian rights and calling for a fair and comprehensive resolution to the conflict.

Results of the European Parliament elections in Germany revealed significant victories for parties supporting Gaza. The new party "DAVA" (Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Development), which closely aligns with Ankara, received the highest number of votes among parties focusing on the Palestinian issue and Gaza,

It's accused by German nationalists of being an extension of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party, AKP (Justice and Development Party), and strongly advocates for Palestine and its people's rights.

Additionally, the Movement for Democracy in Europe secured the second position. Known for its progressive leftist stance emphasizing social and political justice, the party supports the Palestinian cause and seeks a fair and comprehensive solution to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. 

The German party Alliance for Innovation and Justice (BIG), associated closely with Islamic currents, won 31,141 votes. Its electoral platform includes explicit support for Palestinians and their rights, positioning itself as a platform for minorities and immigrants in Germany, thereby becoming a strong advocate for global human rights issues.

Strong Base

The German Communist Party (DKP) garnered 14,945 votes, focusing on anti-imperialism and social justice issues, while staunchly supporting Palestine and criticizing Israeli policies towards Palestinians. 

The Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD) secured 13,553 votes, also advocating clearly for the Palestinian cause and calling for an end to Israeli occupation.

Sarah Wagenknecht's Alliance Party (BSW) emerged as one of the top parties in terms of votes in the European Parliament elections, with 2,453,652 votes and 6 seats. Despite its support for Palestine and Gaza, it acknowledges the Israeli Occupation's right to self-defense, presenting a more balanced position compared to other parties.

Overall, these results indicate significant popular support for Palestine in Europe, reflecting growing awareness and sympathy among Europeans towards the Palestinian cause despite differing stances among political parties.

In contrast to these smaller pro-Palestinian parties, major German parties like the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Left Party, the Greens, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) continue to support Israeli Occupation. Reuters reported on June 4, 2024, that emerging pro-Palestinian parties in Germany are eroding support for the Greens Party and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), both major parties that have maintained strong support for “Israel” due to Germany's historical responsibility regarding the Holocaust.

Despite almost unanimous media bias in Europe towards “Israel” during the Gaza massacres and censorship of anti-aggression and anti-occupation opinions on social media platforms, the European public's reaction has been different this time, reflected in the election victories of pro-Palestinian parties and representatives to the European Parliament.