British-Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, widely renowned for his critical analysis of Israeli history and apartheid, shared with The Guardian his recent unsettling experience upon arrival in the US.

In an op-ed titled "I was detained at a US airport and asked about Israel and Gaza for 2 hours. Why?," he recounts his experience of being questioned by US officials in Detroit. 

He was invited by an Arab American organization al-Nadwa to offer insights on the Gaza genocide.

Upon arrival to the US, Pappé found himself subjected to a two-hour interrogation by Homeland Security agents at Detroit airport.

The line of questioning primarily focused on his perspectives regarding Hamas and whether he deemed "Israel's" actions in Gaza tantamount to genocide.

Israeli Prof. (University of Exeter in the United Kingdom) Ilan Pappe : "I think we are seeing processes, important processes that are leading to the collapse of the Zionist project." pic.twitter.com/N171nR31qf

— Furkan Gözükara (@GozukaraFurkan) May 22, 2024

He was also probed about his stance on the slogan "Palestine should be free from the river to the sea" and his connections within the Arab and Muslim American communities.

Expressing concern over the incident, Pappé sheds light on a broader trend of academic censorship surrounding discussions on occupied Palestine.

"Why are ostensibly liberal and democratic countries so interested in profiling or restricting academics who are trying to share our professionally informed views about Israel and Gaza with the North American and European public?" he asks.

Read more: Dr. Abu Sitta tells Al Mayadeen he 'will not be silenced'

He cites similar instances involving scholars like Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta who was briefly barred from entering the Schengen Area.

Pappé contends that these restrictions not only impede academic freedom but also perpetuate biased narratives, while further hindering progress towards a restoration of peace in Gaza.

He critiques Western governments, particularly the US and UK, for their reluctance to engage with diverse perspectives due to the influence of pro-Israeli lobbies.

Pappé called for the urgent need for a change in approach to enable a more inclusive and informed discourse on the situation in Palestine.

He stressed the significance of academic freedom and freedom of expression in fostering a deeper understanding of the complex issues at hand.

Ultimately, he called for a shift towards a more equitable and just approach to facilitate meaningful progress in resolving the longstanding war in the region.

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