The letter from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Pineda cum suis is being refused entry “because of information received from the competent authorities in Israel”, without explaining what that information is.
Pineda would travel with a group of EU parliamentarians to the Palestinian territories to monitor the situation on the ground after the murder of al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Akleh was killed while reporting on an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinians hold Israel responsible for her death.
The EU Parliament delegation for relations with Palestine has 18 members and informs the EU about political, economic and human rights developments in the Palestinian territories. She also assesses projects financed with European funds, such as schools and shelters, and maintains relationships with political and social leaders.