Professor Ghassan Abu Sitta, a renowned British-Palestinian war surgeon, has successfully challenged and overturned a Schengen-wide travel ban imposed on him by the German government. Abu Sitta’s legal team, comprising lawyer Alexander Gorski from the International Centre of Justice for Palestine (ICJP) and the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), contested the ban on grounds of infringement of his freedom of expression and right to travel.
The lawyers detailed how Abu Sitta encountered hostility from the media and faced travel restrictions upon his return from Gaza, where he served in hospitals and bore witness to war crimes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign. The ban hindered his entry into France, the Netherlands, and Germany, where he had been invited to share his firsthand experiences.
Furthermore, the ban extended to his participation in a German conference via online means, with authorities cautioning Abu Sitta that involvement could lead to legal repercussions, including fines or imprisonment. Most recently, he was barred from entering the Netherlands, where he was scheduled to address civil society organisations and Dutch MPs at the University of Amsterdam later this week.
ICJP lawyer Gorski underscored that the victory secures Abu Sitta’s freedom of expression and movement, enabling him to speak openly about the realities he witnessed in Gaza.
Since departing from the Palestinian enclave in late November, Abu Sitta has been actively raising awareness about the devastating repercussions of Israel’s military actions, which have claimed the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. During his tenure in Gaza, he emerged as the de facto English-language spokesperson for Palestinian medical professionals, accusing Israel’s military of deploying illegal white phosphorus and deliberately targeting innocent children.