British doctor of Palestinian origin denied entry to France

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British surgeon of Palestinian origin, said on Saturday that he was denied entry to France, where he had traveled to speak to the French Senate about Israel’s attacks on Gaza

A prominent British Palestinian surgeon who volunteers in Gaza hospitals said he was denied entry to France on Saturday to speak at a meeting of the French Senate about the Israel-Hamas war.

Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta was placed in a holding zone in the Charles de Gaulle airport and will be expelled, according to French Sen. Raymonde Poncet-Monge, who had invited him to speak at the Senate.

‘’It’s a disgrace,’’ Poncet-Monge posted on X.

A French official said Abu Sitta was turned back at Germany’s request because he was banned from entering all Schengen area countries. The official, who was not authorized to be named publicly in line with government policy, gave no details or further information.

Abu Sitta posted on social networks that he was denied entry to France because of a one-year ban by Germany on his entry to Europe. Germany denied him entry last month, and France and Germany are part of Europe’s border-free Schengen zone. Abu Sitta posted Saturday that he was being sent back to London.

The French Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, local police, and the Paris airport authority would not comment on what happened or explain.

Source: AP