Occupied Palestine – The Israeli occupation authorities have blocked a European Parliament delegation from entering the occupied Palestinian territories to review the situation on the ground after the killing of veteran Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
The EU delegation was forced yesterday to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories after the group’s chairperson Manu Pineda, a Spanish member of the European Parliament, was denied entry to ‘Israel’.
“Israel is blocking the work of the European Parliament,” Pineda said on Sunday, noting that the delegation had also been denied access to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed that Pineda’s entry was not approved due to “information received from the competent authorities in Israel.”
Meanwhile, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who arrived in occupied Palestine for a three-day visit on Sunday, said on Twitter that she regretted Israel’s decision to deny entry to Pineda and would raise the issue with the Israeli authorities.
“Respect for MEPs and the European Parliament is essential for good relations,” she said.
In addition, delegation member Grace O’Sullivan said the decision by Israel was an unprecedented move and that the group would be calling for a strong response from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
O’Sullivan indicated that the six-member delegation was going to visit Palestinians working in the most difficult circumstances, especially in light of the recent assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
