The activists have since said they have been mistreated at the hands of Israeli soldiers, describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs. Israel has denied mistreatment, calling the allegations “false and entirely without factual basis.”

With his statement, Barrot joined a growing chorus of European leaders who are calling for EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir.

“Like my Italian colleague, I call on the European Union to also impose sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir,” Barrot said in the social media post.

But Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka on Wednesday vowed to block sanctions on Israeli government ministers, which require unanimity among the EU’s 27 member states.

Last year Ben-Gvir was sanctioned by the U.K., Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand over what those governments described as his repeated incitement of violence against Palestinians.