Palestinian doctor denied entry by France authorities due to German ban

ROISSY-EN-FRANCE: British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu-Sittah was denied entry to France by French authorities due to a one-year ban imposed by German authorities on Saturday.

The British-Palestinian doctor was scheduled to speak at the French Senate about the on-going war in Gaza, the local healthcare system and the plight of unarmed Palestinians in face of Israel atrocities.

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The surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah voiced frustration over the denial of entry into France. According to his social media post, authorities at Charles de Gaulle airport informed him of the German ban.

The German government had imposed a one-year ban on the doctor stemming from his work in Gaza hospitals and his testimonies on Israel atrocities in the region.

French authorities detained the surgeon at the airport and confiscated his phone.

The French Senator Raymonde Poncet Monge had invited Abu-Sittah to speak before the French Senate. The senator was disappointed over the incident and tried negotiating a reversal of the the decision. However, Abu-Sittah is likely to be sent back to the United Kingdom (UK).

Despite his absence, efforts were made to include Abu-Sittah in the seminar via video conference.

The incident has sparked outrage among supporters of Palestinian cause. It has also raised concerns about the suppression of Palestinian voices and freedom of expression even within Europe.

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Abu Sitta’s extensive work in hospitals in the Gaza strip during the recent war has garnered international attention. In particular, his testimony that shed light on Israel’s systematic attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.

The continuous Israeli bombardment of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of health workers. Since the war began last October, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.