(MENAFN) Slovenia has banned entry to two prominent Israeli ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing their “genocidal statements” and calls for violence against Palestinians.

Both officials hold key positions in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government and are recognized for their far-right stances and outspoken remarks regarding the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir would be declared “persona non grata.”

The ministry accused them of inciting “extreme violence and severe human rights violations against Palestinians,” and publicly promoting “expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank” as well as violence toward the Palestinian people.

Ben-Gvir leads the nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party and is responsible for police oversight. He has previously refused to detain Israeli settlers implicated in attacks against Palestinians.

Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionism Party, has openly advocated for the annexation of Palestinian lands.

Both ministers have also proposed halting all humanitarian aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages.

MENAFN20072025000045017281ID1109822604