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France Bans Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Over Gaza Flotilla Abuse
(MENAFN) France has barred a senior Israeli cabinet minister from entering French territory and is pressing the European Union to impose formal sanctions against him, marking one of the sharpest European diplomatic rebukes of an Israeli official since the Gaza conflict escalated.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced Saturday that Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, had been banned from French soil following what he described as "unacceptable actions" targeting activists aboard a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla — including French and European citizens.
"France cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated, or brutalized," Barrot said, stressing the particular gravity of the conduct given that it allegedly involved a serving government minister.
Taking to X, Barrot broadened his condemnation, situating the incident within a wider pattern of behavior: "I note that these actions have been condemned by a large number of Israeli government and political figures. They follow a long list of shocking statements and actions, incitements to hatred and violence against Palestinians."
He went further, calling for collective European action: "Like my Italian colleague, I call on the European Union to also impose sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir."
The announcement followed the spread of footage purportedly showing Ben-Gvir — a pivotal coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — moving through rows of detained activists who were kneeling in tightly packed formations with their hands bound behind their backs. In the footage, Ben-Gvir appears to brandish an Israeli flag while taunting those in custody.
France was not alone in its response. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had already called on EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to place potential sanctions against Ben-Gvir on the agenda of the next EU foreign ministers' meeting. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin similarly wrote to European Council President Antonio Costa requesting that the upcoming EU summit formally address Israel's treatment of EU nationals aboard the vessel.
The ship in question, the Global Sumud Flotilla, departed Thursday from Marmaris, Türkiye, carrying 428 passengers from 44 countries in a bid to pierce Israel's longstanding blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been in force since 2007.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced Saturday that Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, had been banned from French soil following what he described as "unacceptable actions" targeting activists aboard a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla — including French and European citizens.
"France cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated, or brutalized," Barrot said, stressing the particular gravity of the conduct given that it allegedly involved a serving government minister.
Taking to X, Barrot broadened his condemnation, situating the incident within a wider pattern of behavior: "I note that these actions have been condemned by a large number of Israeli government and political figures. They follow a long list of shocking statements and actions, incitements to hatred and violence against Palestinians."
He went further, calling for collective European action: "Like my Italian colleague, I call on the European Union to also impose sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir."
The announcement followed the spread of footage purportedly showing Ben-Gvir — a pivotal coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — moving through rows of detained activists who were kneeling in tightly packed formations with their hands bound behind their backs. In the footage, Ben-Gvir appears to brandish an Israeli flag while taunting those in custody.
France was not alone in its response. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had already called on EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to place potential sanctions against Ben-Gvir on the agenda of the next EU foreign ministers' meeting. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin similarly wrote to European Council President Antonio Costa requesting that the upcoming EU summit formally address Israel's treatment of EU nationals aboard the vessel.
The ship in question, the Global Sumud Flotilla, departed Thursday from Marmaris, Türkiye, carrying 428 passengers from 44 countries in a bid to pierce Israel's longstanding blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been in force since 2007.
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