Professor Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a British-Palestinian surgeon known for his work in Gaza, was denied entry to France, where he was scheduled to speak at the French Senate. The incident occurred upon his arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport from London. Abu-Sitta was informed that he was subject to a one-year ban by Germany, which extends across the Schengen Area, preventing his entry into France.

Abu-Sitta had planned to discuss his experiences and observations from Gaza, including witnessing the use of white phosphorus munitions, during a Senate meeting organized by France’s left-wing Ecologists group and hosted by French Senator Raymonde Poncet Monge. Following his denial of entry, he was compelled to return to London.

The incident has drawn criticism from various European lawmakers and organizations, such as the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, which have voiced concerns over what they perceive as suppression of voices supporting Palestinian rights. This situation also comes after Abu-Sitta faced a similar entry denial in Germany last month, where he was due to attend a pro-Palestinian conference.

The Elysée Palace and German authorities have not yet commented on this particular case. The UK Foreign Office has also been approached for statements regarding the situation. This development occurs amid heightened tensions and scrutiny related to demonstrations concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict in both France and other parts of the world.