RAMALLAH, April 21, 2025 (WAFA) – Israel cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and officials days before their planned Sunday visit to Palestinian territories.

A statement from the delegation, issued on Monday, indicated that the French consulate in Jerusalem had extended an invitation for a five-day visit aimed at "promoting international cooperation and a culture of peace" in the Palestinian territories and Israel. It confirmed that Israeli authorities had revoked the visas.

This measure comes just days after Tel Aviv barred two British MPs from the ruling Labour Party from entering Israel. This came after President Emmanuel Macron stated that France would soon recognize a Palestinian state, pressuring Netanyahu over Gaza conditions. 

Israel's interior ministry said visas for the 27 had been cancelled under a law that allows authorities to ban people who could act against the state of Israel.

Seventeen members of the group, from France's Ecologist and Communist parties, said they had been victims of "collective punishment" by Israel and called on Macron to intervene.

Y.S