![Some Israelis and foreign tourists arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport to leave the region, fearing an escalation of tensions and attacks that began early this morning on the Israeli-Lebanese border in Tel Aviv, Israel on August 25, 2024. [Nir Keidar - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AA-20240825-35484418-35484412-RISING_TENSIONS_ON_ISRAELLEBANON_BORDER_CAUSE_CONGESTION_AT_BENGURION_AIRPORT.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Two EU lawmakers who were denied entry to Israel and sent back to Europe shortly after landing in the country on Monday have called for a “strong” response from the bloc to the Israeli action, Anadolu has reported.
Lynn Boylan, the head of the European Parliament’s EU-Palestine delegation, and French-Palestinian lawmaker Rima Hassan were traveling from Brussels to Palestine via Israel for discussions with Palestinian authorities. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, they were denied entry and deported to Belgium after hours of questioning.
Israel’s Interior Ministry said Hassan was barred from entry for boycotting the country, but provided no reason for denying Boylan entry.
Speaking to Anadolu, Irish MEP Boylan said that the Israeli authorities had received all required permits and documents weeks in advance but provided no explanation for their treatment at the airport. She stressed that the delegation had an official role in scrutinising EU funds in Palestine and facilitating diplomatic efforts.
“What we need to see now is a very strong reaction from the EU that this is not acceptable,” she said, “and this is not how so-called friendly countries or allies behave.” The Irish MEP also urged support for her delegation’s work. “The key thing we want to hear from the EU institutions is that they support the delegation for relations with Palestine and the mission being rescheduled as soon as possible.”
Boylan pointed out that she had not been contacted by EU officials about the incident but had requested a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
She added that the decisions made during the EU-Israel Association Council meeting on Monday were “deeply disappointing.” The meeting was chaired jointly by the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. “It’s 13 years since this council met, surely there should have been strong conversations requiring Israel to explain its actions for the past 16 months.”
The meeting came months after Spain and Ireland penned a letter urging the EU to reconsider its association agreement with Israel over human rights violations. However, the meeting did not lead to a break or a public discussion about the Spanish-Irish proposal.
According to Boylan, the EU’s response to Israel’s actions had been inadequate. “At the end of the day, the EU was formed to support international law, human rights and the UN, yet one single country seems to be able to do whatever it wants with no consequences.”
A ceasefire agreement has been in place in Gaza since 19 January, halting the Israeli war that has killed almost 50,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction, leaving the enclave in ruins. Despite the ceasefire, though, the Gaza authorities have reported almost daily ceasefire violations by the Israeli occupation army.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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