The Netherlands also bans British-Palestinian surgeon, MPs demand explanation

NOS News•today, 9:42 PM

British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu-Sittah has been refused entry to the Netherlands. An EU-wide administrative ban has been imposed on the man. Recently, Abu-Sittah was also banned from entering Germany and France. D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA want clarification from outgoing Foreign Minister Bruins Slot.

Abu-Sittah frequently speaks out against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The surgeon, who is also rector of the University of Glasgow, was due to speak at the University of Amsterdam next week. He would also be present at an event organized by The Rights Forum, a Dutch knowledge center that stands up for the rights of Palestinians.

According to The Rights Forum, Abu-Sittah had also planned a meeting with a number of MPs. That would have been with Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) and Kati Piri (GroenLinks-PvdA). News agency ANP writes that Piri finds it “unheard of” that Abu-Sittah has been denied access to the Netherlands. Jan Paternotte (D66) finds it “amazing” that the Netherlands refuses him access without his own consideration.

Last month, Abu-Sittah was denied entry to Germany at the airport in Berlin. He would speak at the Palestine Congress there about his experiences in Gaza. The congress was banned by the German authorities.

The police also raided this meeting. According to the police, a live stream was shown of a person who is not allowed to carry out political activities in Germany. The well-known doctor was also refused admission in France last weekend, where he was due to attend a meeting of the French Senate.

The Netherlands is following the German and French example, says The Rights Forum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms to NOS that the administrative ban is the reason for refusing Abu-Sittah. It is unclear why European countries have blacklisted Abu-Sittah.

The doctor himself says that Germany, an important military ally of Israel, is trying to silence him. “This is what accomplices to a crime do,” he said after being turned away in Berlin. “They hide the evidence and silence or intimidate witnesses.”

In the first months of the war, the doctor worked in various hospitals in northern Gaza, where he saw a humanitarian disaster unfold. He was frequently seen in international media and was also interviewed several times as an eyewitness by the NOS.

Earlier this year, Abu-Sittah was in The Hague for a meeting with the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, says The Rights Forum. The British newspaper The Guardian reports that the doctor has provided evidence to the ICC. “As a host country, the Netherlands has a special obligation not to obstruct justice,” reports The Rights Forum.

There are signals that the ICC wants to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reacted angrily to this and says that Israel is not committing acts of war in Gaza.