France Bars Entry to British-Palestinian Surgeon Amid European Travel Ban

Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a surgeon with extensive conflict zone experience, was denied entry to France due to a German-imposed Schengen-wide ban, preventing his scheduled speech at the French Senate.

Abu-Sitta, a vocal critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, was slated to discuss the war's impact on healthcare at a French Senate meeting.
The travel ban stems from German authorities citing security concerns, which has sparked significant political and public backlash.
Despite the ban, Abu-Sitta participated in the Senate meeting via video link from a detention center at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Legal challenges and international criticism have followed, with accusations that the ban serves to silence witnesses to the Gaza conflict.
The incident has intensified debates over freedom of speech and the role of European countries in the Israel-Palestine conflict.