France Bans Ben Gvir After Gaza Flotilla Controversy

PARIS: (Web Desk) – France announced on Saturday that it has barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country following controversy surrounding his treatment of foreign activists detained from a Gaza bound aid flotilla.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the decision on X stating that Ben Gvir’s actions toward French and European activists were unacceptable and justified the travel ban.

Barrot also revealed that France alongside Italy is urging the European Union to impose wider sanctions against the far right Israeli minister.

The diplomatic backlash intensified after Ben Gvir shared a video showing activists detained by Israeli forces after the seizure of a humanitarian flotilla in international waters near Gaza.

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The footage showed several activists kneeling with their hands restrained and heads lowered while Ben Gvir mocked them and waved an Israeli flag. The video was posted online with the caption “Welcome to Israel.”

Following global criticism Israeli authorities announced that the detained activists would be deported. Reports stated that 36 French nationals were among those aboard the flotilla which aimed to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza.

Although France criticized the flotilla mission and described it as unhelpful officials stressed that the treatment of French citizens by an Israeli public official was unacceptable.

Spain also called on the European Union to sanction Ben Gvir while the United Kingdom summoned Israel’s senior diplomat over what it described as an inflammatory video.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the conduct shown in the footage did not reflect Israel’s values but decided to keep Ben Gvir in his cabinet position.

Netanyahu had previously criticized the aid flotilla calling it a politically motivated operation intended to support Hamas.

The activists had departed from Turkey aboard nearly 50 vessels organized under the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative to deliver humanitarian support to Gaza.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007 controlling all major entry points into the territory. During the ongoing war Gaza has faced severe shortages of food medicine and essential supplies due to restrictions on aid deliveries.