France has banned Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, from entering its territory after a widely condemned video was shared on his X account showing him taunting pro-Palestinian activists on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
“From today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on social media.
France, Spain and Italy are also pushing for EU sanctions on Ben-Gvir.
Ben-Gvir video widely condemned
The video, published on Ben-Gvir’s
The activist ship was on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli security forces in international waters.
In the video, the minister is seen walking among the tied-up activists with a group of supporters, waving an Israeli flag and mocking the detainees.
The footage was criticized by critics and Israel’s allies alike, and Ben-Gvir’s conduct was condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Activists say they were abused in Israeli custody
The activists have since been deported from Israel.
On Friday, the Global Sumud Flotilla said some detainees were subjected to physical and sexual abuse. Israeli prison services denied that any abuses had taken place.
Germany said that some of its citizens who were part of the flotilla and detained in Israel had been injured, adding that “some of the allegations made in the air are serious”, without giving further details.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez