Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a dedicated physician who provided medical assistance in Gaza for 43 days during Israel’s conflict, faced a disappointing setback when he was refused entry into France, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech at the Senate.
Expressing his frustration on social media platform X, Abu-Sitta revealed, “I am currently at Charles De Gaulle airport, being barred from entering France. My speech at the French Senate today is now in jeopardy.”
Known for his expertise as a British-Palestinian plastic surgeon and as the rector of the University of Glasgow, Abu Sitta criticized the situation, stating, “Fortress Europe is silencing witnesses to the atrocities while Israel continues its violence unchecked.”
Despite being held in a restricted area at the airport, French Senator Raymonde Poncet Monge, who had extended the invitation for Abu-Sitta to speak at the Senate, confirmed that he would be deported from France.
Reacting to the incident, Guillaume Gontard, the president of the Greens’ Senate group, condemned the decision as “scandalous” and initiated discussions with relevant ministries to reverse the decision, although it seemed likely that Abu-Sitta would be sent back to the UK.
Later, Poncet Monge shared on X that the seminar managed to include Abu-Sitta via videoconference for his speech, expressing disappointment that he could not be physically present.
Thanks to the efforts of lawyers, we were able to establish a video link with @GhassanAbuSitt1!
We are outraged that he cannot be present among us. #Gaza #ColloquePalestine pic.twitter.com/OSxyKwuaGJ
— Raymonde Poncet Monge 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 (@PoncetRaymonde) May 4, 2024
Abu-Sitta disclosed on X that his entry denial in France was due to a previous ban imposed by Germany. “They claim that the Germans have imposed a one-year ban on my entry to Europe,” he shared.
A French police source corroborated to AFP news agency that France was obligated to uphold the German-issued ban on Abu-Sitta’s entry into the Schengen zone, a border-free area encompassing both countries.
Source from www.aljazeera.com