The French government has officially banned Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from entering its territory. The decision follows widespread international condemnation after footage emerged of the minister taunting abducted humanitarian activists earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the administrative sanction on Saturday, stating that France would not tolerate its nationals being threatened or subjected to state-sponsored intimidation.The travel ban takes effect immediately across all French territories.
Barrot announced the decision via a public statement on the social media platform X, citing Ben-Gvir`s reprehensible actions toward French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla. The far-right minister had previously uploaded a video online showing himself gloating over international aid workers. The activists were filmed kneeling on the ground, blindfolded with their hands bound, at the Port of Ashdod under military supervision.
The escalation began when Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla’s vessels in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, detaining approximately 430 participants. While hundreds were eventually released, images of the activists being handled aggressively prompted several European nations—including Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands—to summon Israeli ambassadors to lodge formal diplomatic protests. French officials stated that such actions by a public official represent an unacceptable violation of human dignity and international norms.
The French foreign ministry has also aligned with Italian diplomats in calling upon the European Union to impose collective sanctions against Ben-Gvir. Observers note that this latest incident follows a long series of provocative actions and incendiary statements directed at Palestinian populations by the minister. The behavior has also drawn sharp criticism from within certain sectors of the Israeli government.
