France bans Ben Gvir over ‘reprehensible actions’ toward Gaza flotilla activists |
France’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced Saturday that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was banned with immediate effect from all French territory due to his “reprehensible actions” toward detained activists, including “French and European citizens” from the Gaza flotilla.
“We disapprove of this flotilla’s approach, which produces no useful effect and burdens diplomatic and consular services, whose professionalism and dedication I salute. But we cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated, or brutalized in this way, especially by a public official,” Barrot said in a post on X.
Israeli forces arrested 430 people on board 50 ships in international waters on Tuesday to halt a flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza. The next day, Ben Gvir released a video in which he could be seen taunting the activists as they kneel on the floor, hands bound, immediately sparking an international outcry.
In response, Italy pushed the European Union to adopt sanctions on Ben Gvir, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying Thursday he made a formal........