A British Palestinian surgeon, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, was denied entry to France to speak at a French Senate meeting about the Israel-Hamas war. He was placed in a holding zone at Charles de Gaulle airport and will be expelled. French Sen. Raymonde Poncet-Monge, who invited him to speak, expressed outrage at the decision. Abu Sitta was denied entry due to a German request that barred him from all Schengen zone countries. He was being sent back to London after being denied entry in France.
The French Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, local police, and the Paris airport authority did not provide any explanation for the denial of entry to Dr. Abu Sitta. The surgeon, who had volunteered with Doctors Without Borders in Gaza, had been invited by France’s left-wing Ecologists group in the Senate to speak about the situation in Gaza at a colloquium. The event included testimonies from medics, journalists, and international legal experts with experience related to Gaza.
This was not the first time Dr. Abu Sitta faced entry denial due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian activities. Last month, he was denied entry to Germany to participate in a similar conference. He was stopped at passport control, held for hours, and then told to return to the U.K. Airport police cited concerns about public safety and order as the reason for refusing his entry. Abu Sitta has a long history of working in conflict zones, including the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Tensions related to the Mideast conflict have been escalating in France since the deadly Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7. Protests and demonstrations supporting Palestine have been taking place at French campuses, prompting police to clear out students. The situation reflects the global impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with demonstrations occurring not only in the Middle East but also in various countries around the world.
The denial of entry to Dr. Abu Sitta raises questions about freedom of speech and academic exchange regarding the Israel-Hamas war. International experts and activists like Abu Sitta play a crucial role in shedding light on the situation in Gaza and advocating for peace and justice. The incident highlights the challenges facing individuals who speak out on contentious issues and the need for continued dialogue and engagement to address the root causes of conflicts in the Middle East. Follow AP’s coverage of the war at their designated website for updates.
