France bans Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering country

France has barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country after he posted a video ridiculing bound activists detained by Israeli soldiers during a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

“From today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory” because of “his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens” involved in the humanitarian flotilla, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.

Barrot said he was also joining Italy in pushing for European Union sanctions against the far-right Israeli minister.

The decision came after international condemnation over a video published by Mr Ben-Gvir on Wednesday that showed the forceful handling of foreign activists from the flotilla.

The footage shows dozens of activists made to kneel with their foreheads on the ground and their hands bound.

Captioned “Welcome to Israel”, the video also showed Mr Ben-Gvir taunting the activists while waving an Israeli flag.

Spain has likewise called on the EU to impose sanctions on Mr Ben-Gvir, while the United Kingdom summoned Israel’s top diplomat in Britain over what it described as “the inflammatory video”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”.

Earlier, Mr Netanyahu had condemned the humanitarian aid mission as a “malicious scheme” aimed at supporting Hamas.

The activists set sail from Turkey last week aboard around 50 vessels as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. A number of Irish activists have returned home today.

The mission marked the latest effort by activists to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, following the interception of an earlier convoy by Israeli forces last month.