Courts are slowly catching up
German court rules in favour of banned Palestinian-British surgeon
A court ruling in Germany, which declared a ban on political activity against prominent British-Palestinian surgeon and academic Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah unlawful, has been confirmed.
In July 2025, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that the Berlin Immigration Office wrongly prohibited Abu Sittah from entering Germany to speak at the Palestine Congress held a year earlier.
It also noted Abu Sittah witnessed Israeli air attacks in October and November 2023, emphasising his testimony before the International Criminal Court should have been taken into account.
The Palestine Congress in Berlin, organised by pro-Palestinian activists, was shut down by police shortly after it began. The three-day event had been expected to address Germany’s alleged complicity in Israel’s actions, along with other topics.
Abu Sittah, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and rector of the University of Glasgow, travelled to Gaza on October 9, 2023, where he worked for 43 days during Israel’s initial attack. He had been invited to the Berlin conference to share his experiences in Gaza, but was denied entry into Germany.
Italian news agency called out after journalist fired for ‘uncomfortable’ Israel question
Journalist Gabriele Nunziati says he was fired by the Italian news agency Nova after asking a European Commission official if Israel should pay to rebuild Gaza – since the EU has already called for Russia to pay to rebuild Ukraine.
The International Federation of Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists condemned the dismissal.
“It is unacceptable that a question, no matter how uncomfortable, could cost him his job,” said the National Federation of the Italian Press.
