Germany bars Palestinian doctor from entry

Police officers stand guard in front of the entrance to the venue of the so-called Palestine Conference in Berlin, Germany on 12 April, 2024 [JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images]

Germany has banned Palestinian war surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sitta from entering Berlin to address a conference about his work in Gaza, the surgeon said on social media.

In a post on X, Abu Sitta wrote: “Invited to address a conference in Berlin about my work in Gaza hospitals during the present conflict. The German government has forcibly prevented me from entering the country.”

“Silencing a witness to genocide before the ICJ adds to Germany’s complicity in the ongoing massacre.”

Invited to address a conference in Berlin about my work in Gaza hospitals during the present conflict.
The German government has forcibly prevented me from entering the country
Silencing a witness to genocide before the ICJ adds to Germany's complicity in the ongoing massacre.

— Ghassan Abu Sitta (@GhassanAbuSitt1) April 12, 2024

The British-Palestinian medic spent weeks in Gaza treating victims of Israeli attacks and raising awareness about suffering there. He has since spoken out about the difficulties medical teams in Gaza face in treating Palestinians wounded in Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign.

At least 33,634 Palestinians have been killed and 76,214 injured in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza since 7 October, the Ministry of Health said in a statement today.

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