France Bans Entry to Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir

France has barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering its territory, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday.

The move came after the far-right official posted a video showing abuse of detained activists who were part of the Gaza-bound “Global Sumud Flotilla.”

In a post on X, Barrot said: “As of today, Itamar Ben Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” while condemning “actions that cannot be described against French and European citizens who were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla,” which Israel intercepted off the coast of Cyprus before detaining its activists and later deporting them.

Reuters quoted the French minister as saying the decision reflected anger over the treatment of the flotilla activists, who were heading to Gaza.

He added that “with my Italian counterpart, I am also calling on the European Union to impose sanctions on Itamar Ben Gvir.”

Poland had already announced a ban on the Israeli national security minister from entering its territory, after a wave of criticism and rebukes prompted by a video he posted showing him humiliating Gaza flotilla activists.