Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza and occupation of Palestinian territories, has been informed that Israeli authorities have barred her from entering the country for five years.
Ms Boylan, who chairs the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Palestine, was unable to take part in an official visit to Israel and Palestine this week, due to the entry ban.
EU diplomats posted to Tel Aviv advised that Ms Boylan was subject to a five-year travel ban, during which period Israeli authorities would bar her entry into the country and the occupied Palestinian territories. It is impossible to enter Palestine, including the West Bank, without crossing an Israeli checkpoint.
Internal correspondence from EU officials to the Sinn Féin MEP states a law passed in Israel’s Knesset parliament also barred the entry of any individuals involved in encouraging the boycott, divestment and sanction of Israel, or those who had called for Israeli figures to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court.
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The travel ban imposed on the Irish MEP may further fray tensions between the European Union institutions and Israel, at a time when Israeli diplomats have been trying to repair relations in Brussels damaged by the Gaza war.
Ms Boylan was previously refused entry into Israel in February this year, while travelling as part of a parliament delegation with left-wing French MEP Rima Hassan.
At the time, Israeli authorities said the delegation was not allowed into Israel because of a law prohibiting entry to those who have published calls for a boycott of the state.
Speaking on Friday, Ms Boylan said she had not been aware she was the subject of a five-year entry ban, following the previous attempt to travel to the country in her capacity as an MEP.
The Dublin MEP said she only learned of the travel restrictions from EU officials, during preparation for a visit to Israel with the parliament’s delegation on Palestine relations.
The official visit went ahead this week without Ms Boylan, and involved two MEPs visiting Jerusalem and a refugee camp in the West Bank.
A tentative ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza is creaking under the weight of recent Israeli military air strikes in the Palestinian enclave. Israel, meanwhile, has accused Hamas of a string of ceasefire breaches, including intentionally delaying the return of hostage remains.
At least 67,000 Palestinians were killed by Israel’s forces during two years of war, which levelled much of Gaza and sparked a famine in parts of the enclave.
The war began after Hamas militants controlling the Gaza Strip attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israel.
A shaky truce brokered by US president Donald Trump, which enabled the remaining hostages to be released, has been strained by sporadic resumptions of hostilities in recent days.
Israel retaliated for the death of an Israeli soldier with bombardments, which Gaza health authorities said killed 104 people between Tuesday and Wednesday. Israel has said that it remains committed to the ceasefire, despite its retaliation.
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Ms Boylan said Israel’s decision to bar her entry to the country for the next five years was an “insult” and the EU should respond with travel bans on Israeli politicians.
“Unfortunately, this is just the latest two fingers that Israel has shown to the international community,” she said.
“They’ve given no specific reason for this ban, but one of their justifications was bizarrely that I had called for ICC arrest warrants to be upheld,” added Ms Boylan.
“Israel has multiple violations of international law, including their illegal occupation of the West Bank and various illegal settlements. Allowing a foreign power to dictate what MEPs can do, and to violate international law with impunity, sets a very dangerous precedent.”
