Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

HRW demands explanation from Germany over Ghassan Abu Sitta's EU ban

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Human Rights Watch
  • 10 May 2024 14:58
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta reveals his intention to challenge his entry ban in the German courts and perhaps the European Court of Human Rights.

  • x
  • Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a Palestinian-British surgeon specializing in conflict medicine, speaks during an interview at the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (AP)
    Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a Palestinian-British surgeon specializing in conflict medicine, speaks during an interview at the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (AP)

After being blocked from entering France over the weekend and the Netherlands later this month, Human Rights Watch has requested the German government to provide a public explanation for its Schengen-wide ban on Palestinian-British surgeon, Ghassan Abu Sitta. 

On Friday, Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said, "Germany should immediately explain why it has denied him entry and imposed this far-reaching ban on a leading health professional to speak in Berlin, Paris, and The Hague about what he witnessed in Gaza."

Abu Sitta revealed his intention to challenge his entry ban in the German courts and perhaps the European Court of Human Rights.

This comes after the Palestinian ambassador invited the surgeon to attend an event in The Hague on the 76th anniversary of Nakba Day on May 15, but the surgeon revealed to HRW that Dutch officials notified the ambassador of the ban. 

Read next: Slow death, no anesthesia; Abu Sitta recalls horrors he saw in Gaza

Still, he was told he would be permitted entry for a meeting with the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to brief the Director General on the use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces. The catch is that he would be allowed to enter only if he were to leave immediately after.

#Palestine #GazaWar pic.twitter.com/XkyxOmzMm3

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 5, 2024

Plain complicity in plain sight

Related News

Gaza war 'could have ended long ago', ex-IOF admit, urging ceasefire

Zamir demands Gaza war strategy as rift with Israeli cabinet grows

On April 24, the HRW asked Germany for clarification on how the ban is in line with the country’s obligations to freedom of expression, assembly, and non-discrimination, while also calling on the British and Scottish governments to pressure Germany.

Ahmed added, “In the midst of ongoing atrocities in Gaza, countries should be prioritizing ending complicity and promoting accountability,” noting that “instead, Germany, in blocking Dr. Abu Sitta from sharing his experience, is trying to block citizens from even hearing about the grave abuses taking place in Gaza. The UK government should immediately raise the reported ban with their German counterparts.”

Last week, the Palastina Kongress (Palestine Conference), which was held in April in Berlin, Germany, demanded on Saturday the end of the genocide in Gaza and Europe's complicity and collaboration with the Israeli occupation.

On its Instagram page, the Conference denounced Ghassan Abu Sitta's entry ban to Paris and the one-year Europe ban imposed by Germany, accusing the latter of knowing "no bounds in its systematic silencing of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices."

Abu Sitta detailed to Al Mayadeen his experience in France's Charles De Gaulle International Airport, where French authorities stopped and turned him back on Saturday. 

Fortress Europe silencing the witnesses to the genocide while Israel kills them in prison.

— Ghassan Abu Sitta (@GhassanAbuSitt1) May 4, 2024

Dr. Abu Sitta flew to France to speak at the French Senate at the invitation of the Ecologists Party [The Greens], however, he was stopped and interrogated after arriving at Charles De Gaulle airport, only to be later put on a flight back home. French authorities told Abu Sitta that he was barred from entering EU member states after German authorities banned him from the Schengen Area. 

Read more: UN expert slams Germany over EU entry ban on Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta

The surgeon volunteered with Doctors Without Borders in the Gaza Strip.

He told Al Mayadeen that the main reason why French authorities denied him entry to the country was to deny him access to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The doctor was also scheduled to speak to authorities in the ICC, which is reportedly exploring issuing arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Germany
  • Israeli occupation
  • Human Rights Watch
  • Ghassan Abu Sitta
  • Gaza
  • Palestinian cause
  • Ghassan Abu-Sittah
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS