Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from France for his treatment of pro-Palestinian activists detained as they tried to reach Gaza, the French government announced on Saturday.
Issued on: 23/05/2026 - 15:12
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Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory, effective immediately, after "his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens" who were part of the flotilla, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on X. While saying he didn't support the flotilla's actions, Barrot declared: "We cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated or brutalised in this way, especially by a public official." He added that, alongside the Italian government, he was also calling for European Union sanctions against Ben-Gvir. The far-right minister drew condemnation from France and other countries, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for sharing a video of himself taunting activists as they knelt in handcuffs while detained by Israeli authorities. Several of the activists on board the flotilla have alleged they were subjected to violence, sexual abuse and deliberate humiliation after being intercepted by Israeli naval forces. Eight of the 36 French nationals taking part returned to Paris on Friday, telling reporters that two of their fellow activists remained in hospital in Turkey. Speaking to AFP news agency, activists described being stripped, groped, hit, forced into stress positions and kept in handcuffs for 36 hours at a time. Asked by AFP to respond to the claims of physical and psychological violence, sexual harassment, assault, and rape, the Israeli prison service said the accusations were "false and entirely without factual basis". (with AFP)
