British-Palestinian medical professional Ghassan Abu Sitta allegedly obstructed from gaining entry into France
Snappy, Straight-Up Rewrite:
Brit-Pal Surgeon Barred from France and Germany
British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta hit a roadblock in Europe recently, getting turned away from France and Germany. He was set to shed light on Israel's attacks on Gaza's healthcare system, but authorities slammed on the brakes.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), who work with Abu Sitta, claimed French authorities at Charles de Gaulle Airport blocked him, saying it was all thanks to a Schengen-wide ban enforced by Germany.
Abu Sitta, who witnessed Israel's devastating bombing campaign in Gaza last year, wasn't pleased with the ban. He saw it as an attempt to hush him up. "Fortress Europe," he shouted, "silencing the witnesses to genocide as Israel exterminates them."
He was referring to Adnan al-Bursh, a fellow Palestinian surgeon who met a brutal end in Israeli detention. Abu Sitta lambasted the European powers for being complicit in arming war criminals.
MEE reached out to the French foreign ministry for comment, but they didn't respond. An ICJP spokesperson told MEE Abu Sitta was grilled by French authorities and had his phone snatched away in the process.
According to the ICJP, German politicians have a Soft-Spot for Israel's security, so much so that they're willing to quash free speech to shield Israel from criticism. Taylor Ali, ICJP director, declared, "ICJP is prepping lawyers in France and Germany to knock down this German crackdown on free speech and witness testimony."
This French ban isn't even a month old. It followed hot on the heels of Abu Sitta being refused entry to Germany for a medical conference, ultimately being deported to the UK.
Since leaving Gaza in late November, Abu Sitta has been raising awareness about Israel's war's impact, which wrecked havoc on over 34,500 Palestinians. In the initial weeks, he stood as the main English-speaking rep for Palestinian doctors and surgeons, accusing the Israeli military of illegal use of white phosphorus and targeting kids.
In interviews, Abu Sitta revealed that medics in Gaza were scraping by, resorting to using household items to treat patients due to an Israeli-imposed blockade on medical gear entering the enclave.
- The British-Palestinian surgeon, Ghassan Abu Sitta, was prevented from speaking about Israel's attacks on Gaza's healthcare system across Europe, particularly France and Germany.
- Abu Sitta's advocacy for Palestinian human rights has been met with resistance, as he was barred from attending a medical conference in Germany and subsequently deported to the UK.
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has accused European powers of prioritizing Israel's security over human rights and free speech.
- Taylor Ali, director of the ICJP, announced that lawyers are being prepared to challenge the German crackdown on free speech and witness testimony in France and Germany.
- Adnan al-Bursh, another Palestinian surgeon, faced a brutal end in Israeli detention, a situation that Abu Sitta believes the European powers are complicit in by arming war criminals.
- News agencies have reported on the growing tensions between the Middle East, specifically Israel and Palestine, and the international community in discussions about policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice.
- Amidst general-news headlines about migration, security, and politics, the story of Abu Sitta's ban remains a significant concern for those advocating for human rights in Palestine and the Middle East.
