France has decided to ban Israel’s Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from access to French territory, said Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Saturday, adding that the decision reflected anger over the treatment of Gaza-bound flotilla activists.
“As from today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” wrote Barrot on X.
“Along with my Italian counterpart, I am asking the European Union to also take sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir,” he added.
Western governments have voiced outrage after Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting Gaza-bound flotilla activists being pinned to the ground. Some of the activists have alleged they were beaten and sexually assaulted by Israeli security forces while in detention.
Israeli minister Ben-Gvir banned from entering France
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Ben-Gvir’s conduct was rebuked by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States, Israel’s main ally and backer. Netanyahu said Ben-Gvir’s conduct was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”.
The flotilla’s activists, whose vessel was stopped and boarded this week in international waters by Israeli naval forces as they tried to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, have subsequently been deported from Israel.
In his post, the French minister was also critical of flotilla activists, who were attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
“We disapprove of this flotilla’s approach, which produces no useful effect and places an additional burden on diplomatic and consular services,” Barrot wrote.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AP)