France announced on Saturday it had banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entry for a video mocking bound activists seized by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
“From today, Itamar Ben Gvir is banned from entering French territory” after “his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens” who were part of the humanitarian flotilla, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.
He added that, along with Italy, he was also calling for European Union-level sanctions against the far-right Israeli minister.
Ben Gvir’s actions follow a long list of hatred and violence against Palestinians, Barrot wrote.
The ban follows a global outcry after Ben Gvir published a video on Wednesday showing the heavy-handed treatment of foreign activists from the flotilla.
In the video, dozens of activists are seen forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied.
The clip, which was captioned “Welcome to Israel”, also showed Ben-Gvir heckling the activists while waving an Israeli flag.
Spain has also urged the EU to sanction Ben Gvir, while the United Kingdom summoned Israel’s most senior diplomat in Britain following “the inflammatory video”.
Images showing Ben Gvir taunting members of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla are unacceptable, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
“We will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens,” Sanchez said on X, adding his government would push for Ben Gvir’s ban to enter Spain to be extended to the whole European Union urgently.
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said she was “truly appalled” by the video. In a statement on X, Cooper said Britain was in contact with the families of several British nationals involved and was providing consular support.
“We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved,” Cooper said.
Several other world leaders also criticised Ben Gvir’s actions.
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “appalled” by the treatment of aid flotilla members attempting to enter Gaza by Ben Gvir.
“Appalled by the treatment of flotilla members by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir. This behaviour is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release,” Costa said in a statement on social media website X.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the treatment of the Global Sumud flotilla activists, amongst them EU citizens, was “degrading and wrong”.
“Israeli Minister Ben Gvir’s conduct is unbecoming of anyone holding office in a democracy,” she added.
“The images we have seen posted by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir — who Australia has sanctioned — are shocking and unacceptable,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced what he said were the national security minister’s “despicable actions”.
“Universal outrage and condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official … for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was a stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation,” Huckabee wrote on X.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the country will summon Israel’s ambassador to air “grave concerns” about the treatment of the detained activists.
“We expect Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of New Zealanders participating in the flotilla,” Peters said.
The activists had departed from Turkey last week on around 50 vessels under the Global Sumud Flotilla.
It was the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.
