France has banned Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, from entering the country after a video showed him mocking a group of European activists who were detained.
On 23 May 2026, France announced it would prohibit Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, from entering the country after he posted a video mocking activists who were detained and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers aboard a relief shipment heading to the Gaza Strip.
Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted on the platform X that "From today onwards, Itamar Ben-Gvir will be banned from entering French territory" following "disgusting actions against French and European citizens" as part of a humanitarian aid flotilla.
He added that France and Italy will jointly call for European Union (EU) sanctions against this far-right Israeli minister.
The ban followed Ben-Gvir’s release of a video last Wednesday showing harsh treatment of foreign activists from the flotilla, who were detained by Israel in international waters and were awaiting deportation at the Ashdod port in the south.
The video showed dozens of activists forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and hands bound behind their backs, while Ben Gvir mocked them nearby, saying, "Welcome to Israel." He also jeered at the activists while waving the Israeli flag.
The video sparked widespread condemnation, especially from the European Union. Previously, Spain called for EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir, and the United Kingdom summoned Israel's top diplomat in Britain following the dissemination of the "controversial and provocative video."
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists "does not align with the values and norms of the State of Israel."
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Source:cna