Israel Bars Two EU Lawmakers from Entry Over Boycott Support
Israel has denied entry to two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), citing their support for boycotts against the country.
Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel’s office announced that MEP Rima Hassan would be blocked from entering due to her advocacy for boycotting Israel. No reason was provided for the denial of entry to MEP Chris MacManus.
“Hassan, who is expected to arrive from Brussels shortly, has consistently promoted boycotts against Israel through public statements on social media and media interviews,” the ministry’s statement said.
Both Hassan and MacManus were traveling to Israel to meet with Palestinian Authority officials. They have previously called for the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza.
The two have been vocal critics of Israel’s military actions. Israel launched a large-scale assault on Gaza following an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of at least 48,000 people, with many others missing and presumed dead.
Hassan came under intense scrutiny in 2024 when she agreed with a statement suggesting Hamas’ October 7 attack was legitimate. She was later summoned by police in France for alleged “apology for an act of terrorism.”
Criticizing Israel’s decision, Hassan stated: “This utter contempt from Israel is the result of the international community failing to hold them to account.”













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