Palestinian-British surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah not allowed to enter the Netherlands

The Dutch government did not give Palestinian-British surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah permission to travel to the Netherlands, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. The Netherlands took the position to stick to an earlier decision from Germany, which previously did not grant the surgeon a Schengen visa, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson thus confirmed a report from The Rights Forum. The human rights organization said earlier in the day on X that the Netherlands has denied Abu-Sittah entry to the country.

While working as a surgeon at the al-Shifa and al-Ahli hospital in the Gaza Strip, Abu-Sittah said he witnessed an “unfolding massacre” because of the Israeli military’s use of white phosphorus. He has provided evidence about his claims to Scotland Yard and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, British newspaper The Guardian previously reported.

His allegations stem from his time in Gaza during the months of October and November. He was in the country shortly after the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, and Israel’s massive ensuing retaliation.

Abu-Sittah was supposed to be in the Netherlands next week, The Rights Forum said. His agenda included meetings with Members of Parliament, a speech at the University of Amsterdam, and an event from The Rights Forum, also organized in Amsterdam at Pakhuis de Zwijger. The director of the latter, Gerard Jonkman, said the decision is "shocking and, in our opinion, completely unacceptable" that Abu-Sittah is not allowed to enter the Netherlands.

"The decision completely goes against basic freedoms such as freedom of expression." He was planning to speak about several topics, including "the suppression of apparently unwelcome voices in Germany and France." That event will continue next Friday.

France denied Abu-Sittah entry to that country on Sunday, citing Germany’s decision. The surgeon then told the British newspaper that he was not aware that German authorities had imposed an administrative visa ban on him for a period of one year.

This measure means that he will not be allowed to enter any Schengen Area country for the coming year. The Schengen Area currently covers 29 countries where border controls are generally open. It includes 25 European Union countries, and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus and Ireland are the only EU countries not part of the area.

The Rights Forum was founded in 2009 on the initiative of former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt. He developed into a staunch supporter of the Palestinian people after leaving office. Van Agt died in February.