Ireland bans two Israeli ministers from traveling to the country

Ireland has moved to bar two of Israel’s most outspoken ministers from entering the country, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirming that Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has imposed travel bans on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Mr Ben-Gvir serves as Israel’s national security minister, while Mr Smotrich holds the finance portfolio.

The Taoiseach was speaking at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro.

Mr Martin said the ministers’ rhetoric and conduct “amount to a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine”.

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“That is something the international community needs to recognise and respond to, and we will be pursuing that with others.

“In my view, their behaviour warrants sanctions at EU level as well, and that is an issue we will raise. Whether we can secure enough backing across the European Union is another question,” he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Minister O’Callaghan said the bans were put in place after being agreed by Government this week outside a formal Cabinet decision.

“In line with the Taoiseach’s statement that Ireland will act to prevent those members of the government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza from entering our country, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir the minister for national security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, the minister for finance of Israel, should they seek to enter.”

Watch: Taoiseach says behaviour of Israeli ministers ‘justifies sanctions’

It is understood the travel ban was signed off earlier this week and did not require Cabinet approval.

France said last month that it had barred Mr Ben-Gvir from entering the country after he shared a video mocking activists detained by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Spain, France and Italy have all urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Mr Ben-Gvir.

Last month, Mr Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee also condemned the video footage shared by Mr Ben-Gvir.

France has meanwhile opened an investigation into alleged “war crime” and “torture” linked to Israel’s treatment of French activists involved in the flotilla, a prosecutor’s office said today.

The investigation was launched at the request of the government, the national counterterrorism prosecutor’s office (PNAT) said, after activists alleged they were mistreated by Israeli authorities during their detention last month.

Separately, the Taoiseach indicated he did not want to see the Republic of Ireland soccer team put at a disadvantage as pressure grows on the FAI to boycott its upcoming match against Israel.

Mr Martin said the fixture was ultimately a matter for FIFA and signalled that the Irish Government did not have a direct role in the issue.

He said the most effective way to challenge Israel’s actions was to build agreement at EU level and to press for the United States to increase pressure on Israel as well.