France has officially banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the announcement, citing Ben-Gvir’s “unspeakable” and “unacceptable” actions — specifically a video where he taunted bound and kneeling activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla who were detained by Israeli forces.
The ban is indefinite and applies to French territory.
France has banned Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering its territory, citing his “unspeakable” behaviour of taunting Gaza flotilla activists who were detained by Israeli forces.
“As of today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory. This decision follows his unspeakable actions towards French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced in a post on X on Saturday.
“We cannot tolerate that French nationals can be threatened, intimidated or brutalised in this way – all the more so by a public official,” Barrot said, calling on the European Union to sanction Ben-Gvir.
Ben-Gvir had posted footage on a social media platform showing himself gloating as activists from the flotilla knelt on the floor, blindfolded, with their hands bound, at the port of Ashdod.