France blocks Palestinian advocate from EU Parliament despite support from Belgium and Netherlands

France has refused a visa to Shawan Jabarin, a leading Palestinian human rights advocate, preventing him from addressing the European Parliament's human rights committee.

Jabarin, director of the Ramallah-based organisation Al Haq, was scheduled to speak on 14 April but was blocked despite Belgium and the Netherlands being prepared to grant him entry.

The visa refusal came even though France's foreign ministry did not object to issuing the visa.

Mounir Satouri, a French Green MEP and chair of the committee, indicated that another part of the French government intervened at the last moment to block Jabarin's entry.

Jabarin's deputy, Tahseen Alayan, attended in his place and highlighted increased Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, which he described as occurring with the complicity of the Israeli government.

Over 750 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire began in October 2023, with recent airstrikes continuing in Gaza.

This incident underscores ongoing political tensions within the European Union regarding engagement with Palestinian human rights issues.

France's refusal contrasts with the stance of several other EU member states, including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, which condemned Israel's designation of Al Haq as a terrorist organisation without evidence.

Al Haq was labelled a terrorist group by Israel, accused of acting as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claims that have not been substantiated.

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