PARIS (Agencies) – France has barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country after he posted a controversial video showing detained Gaza-bound aid activists kneeling with their hands tied. The footage triggered widespread condemnation from European leaders and international officials, with several countries calling for European Union sanctions against the far-right minister. Critics described the treatment of activists as degrading and unacceptable, while governments including Spain, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand demanded explanations from Israel and voiced concerns over the handling of foreign nationals aboard the flotilla.
France has officially banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering its territory following the circulation of a controversial video involving activists detained from a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla. The announcement was made on Saturday by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who accused Ben Gvir of behaving in a manner that violated the dignity of French and European citizens.
Barrot stated that the decision was taken due to the Israeli minister’s “reprehensible actions” toward activists participating in the aid mission. He further revealed that France, together with Italy, would seek European Union sanctions against Ben Gvir over the incident.
The controversy erupted after Ben Gvir shared a video on social media showing dozens of activists detained by Israeli forces after attempting to reach Gaza by sea. In the footage, the activists were seen kneeling on the ground with their hands restrained while soldiers stood nearby. The video was captioned “Welcome to Israel,” and also included scenes of Ben Gvir waving an Israeli flag and mocking those detained.
The incident quickly drew criticism from governments and international leaders across the world. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the treatment of the activists and described the images as unacceptable. He announced that Spain would push for a European Union-wide travel ban against Ben Gvir, stressing that Spain would not tolerate the mistreatment of its citizens.
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In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed shock over the footage and confirmed that British authorities were in contact with families of British nationals who had joined the flotilla. She stated that the UK government had demanded clarification from Israel regarding the handling of detainees and reminded Israeli authorities of their responsibilities under international law.
European Council President Antonio Costa also criticised the actions shown in the video, calling the treatment of the flotilla members completely unacceptable. Similarly, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the treatment of the activists as degrading and inappropriate, adding that Ben Gvir’s conduct was unfit for a public official in a democratic state.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong labelled the footage shocking and unacceptable, noting that Australia had already imposed sanctions on Ben Gvir previously. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticised the Israeli minister’s actions despite dismissing the flotilla mission itself as a publicity stunt.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that Israel’s ambassador would be summoned to discuss concerns over the treatment of New Zealand citizens who took part in the flotilla.
The activists were part of the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” a convoy of nearly 50 vessels that departed from Turkey last week in an effort to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The operation followed another failed flotilla attempt intercepted by Israeli forces last month.
