The government of Israel blocked a Spanish member of the European Parliament from entering the country so she could go on an official trip to Palestine, expelling her from the country and forcing her return to Spain, Politico reports.
While eight other lawmakers from two European Parliament delegations, one bound for Israel and one for Palestine, were allowed to enter, Ana Miranda was denied entry, according to a spokesperson for Israel’s diplomatic team to the European Union, because she had previously entered the country illegally. In 2015, Miranda participated in a flotilla protesting Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which started in 2007 and continues to today.