Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British-Palestinian doctor, revealed through a post on X that he had been denied entry by French authorities prior to a French Senate meeting. There, he was scheduled to provide testimony about his experiences in Gaza. The reason given was a ban placed on him by German authorities which prevented him from entering Europe.
Primarily a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Abu Sitta volunteered for 43 days in Gaza City, working with Doctors Without Borders. He provided medical care at the al-Ahli and al-Shifa hospitals. Dr. Abu Sitta previously highlighted his experiences in an interview with The Washington Post in December 2023, describing the horrific reality in Gaza, which included the utilization of white phosphorus missiles by Israel leading to death and injuries among Palestinian children.
Despite his inability to physically attend the French Senate meeting, Dr. Abu Sitta delivered his talk via video conference link. His inability to attend in person was met with outrage from Raymonde Poncet Monge, the senator who organized the conference. Dr. Abu Sitta’s ban, which spanned all Schengen European countries, originated from Germany, resulting in his refusal of entry into France at the airport and his subsequent return to London. Dr. Abu Sitta had been invited by the French Green Party to talk about his first-hand experiences in Gaza.
The International Centre for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has stated their intent to take legal action in German courts as legal counsel in Germany has been secured to fight the ban. According to Tayab Ali, director of ICJP, the ban represents an unacceptable act of silencing and harassment of a witness to Israeli war crimes.
Ali also pointed out the hypocrisy of German politicians who frequently claim that Israel’s security is Germany’s reason of state. He accused them of denying Dr. Abu Sitta’s rights to free speech and movement to safeguard Israel from criticism. Furthermore, he accused them of using authoritarian methods to suppress free speech and witness testimony, emphasising that ICJP will not stand for it.
Despite the allegations, it is important to note that the German government is a dedicated supporter of Israel. Proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have been formally initiated by Nicaragua against Germany accusing the latter of aiding Israel in genocide through arms and munitions supply. However, the ICJ recently denied Nicaragua’s request to halt Germany’s military aid to Israel.
This report was originally covered by the JURIST – News.