See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:00 BST, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 22:22 BST, 23 May 2026
France has banned Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his 'unspeakable' behaviour targeting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by his police force.'As of today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory. This decision follows his unspeakable actions toward French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla,' the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced in a post on X.'We cannot tolerate that French nationals can be threatened, intimidated or brutalised in this way - all the more so by a public official,' Barrot posted, calling on the European Union to also sanction Ben-Gvir.This week, Ben-Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists.In one clip, Ben-Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag over hunched-over detainees whose hands appear to be bound. In another, he taunts a kneeling detainee whose wrists are zip-tied, yelling 'Am Yisrael Chai' at him - Hebrew for 'The nation of Israel lives'. In a third, detainees can be seen - foreheads to the floor of an outdoor pen - as the Israeli national anthem plays and armed guards encircle them.Foreign leaders - and even coalition partner Netanyahu - condemned Ben-Gvir's on-camera treatment of some 430 flotilla detainees. France has banned Israel's Itamar Ben Gvir (pictured) over his behaviour towards activists from a flotilla who were detained Ben-Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists. In one clip, Ben-Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag over hunched-over detainees whose hands appear to be bound In another clip, he taunts a kneeling detainee whose wrists are zip-tied, yelling 'Am Yisrael Chai' at him - Hebrew for 'The nation of Israel lives'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.The flotilla of 50 boats was intercepted in international waters some 250 miles off the coast of Israel. Detained activists accused Israeli forces of mistreatment, describing beatings, tasers and dog attacks. Poland has also barred Ben-Gvir, announcing a five-year ban on Thursday.'In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody,' Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski posted.