British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sitta was refused entry to the Netherlands. An administrative ban was imposed at the European Union level on the man. Recently, Abu Sitta was also banned from entering Germany and France. D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA want clarification from outgoing Foreign Minister Bruens Sloat.

Abu Sitta often speaks out against Israeli attacks on Gaza. Al-Jarrah, who is also Dean of the University of Glasgow, was due to speak at the University of Amsterdam next week. He will also be present at an event organized by the Rights Forum, a Dutch knowledge center that advocates for Palestinian rights.

According to the Human Rights Forum, Abu Sitta also intended to hold a meeting with a number of representatives. It could have been with Robin Brekelmans (VVD) and Katy Perry (GroenLinks-PvdA). The ANP news agency wrote that Perry believed he had “never heard before” that Abu Sitta had been denied access to the Netherlands. Jan Paternot (D66) finds it “astonishing” that the Netherlands refused to let him in without his consideration.

Last month, Abu Sitta was prevented from entering Germany at Berlin Airport. He will speak at the Palestinian conference there about his experiences in Gaza. The conference was banned by the German authorities.

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

The Netherlands follows the example of Germany and France, says the Rights Forum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms to NOS that the administrative ban is the reason for Abu Sitta’s refusal. It is not clear why European countries blacklisted Abu Sitta.

The doctor himself says that Germany, an important military ally of Israel, is trying to silence him. “This is what accomplices in the crime do,” he said after he was rejected in Berlin. “They hide 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 catastrophe unfold. He has been frequently seen in international media and has also been interviewed several times as an eyewitness by NOS.

Earlier this year, Abu Sitta was in The Hague to meet with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, according to the Rights Forum. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that the doctor submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court. “As a host country, the Netherlands has a special obligation not to obstruct justice,” the Rights Forum said.

There are indications that the International Criminal Court wants to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu responded angrily to this, saying that Israel is not committing acts of war in Gaza.