Israel’s government revoked the visas of 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials just two days before they were set to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, according to the group. The cancellations came after Israel previously barred two British Labour Party MPs from entering the country.
The timing of the decision coincided with growing diplomatic tensions following French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that France would soon recognize a Palestinian state. Macron has been pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over conditions in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
The group, which included members from France’s Ecologist and Communist parties, had been invited by the French consulate in Jerusalem for a five-day mission to promote international cooperation and peace. They had planned to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, but Israel’s Interior Ministry cited a law allowing authorities to deny entry to individuals deemed to be acting against the state of Israel.
Seventeen members of the group accused Israel of “collective punishment” and demanded an explanation for the sudden revocation of their visas, which had been approved a month prior. They called on Macron to intervene, denouncing the action as a “major rupture” in diplomatic ties.
The delegation, which included National Assembly deputies Francois Ruffin, Alexis Corbiere, and Julie Ozenne, along with Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha, also stressed their parties’ long-standing support for Palestinian statehood.
This incident follows similar actions earlier this month when Israel detained British MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed at Tel Aviv airport before deporting them, with the same justification. In February, Israel also denied entry to two European parliamentarians, Rima Hassan and Lynn Boylan.
Netanyahu has reacted strongly to France’s stance, labeling the potential recognition of a Palestinian state as a “huge reward for terrorism.” The French lawmakers, for their part, vowed to continue pressing for action from Macron to resolve the matter.
