Paris (HRNW) – France has officially banned Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country following controversy over the treatment of volunteers detained from the Gaza aid flotilla.
According to international media reports, the French Foreign Minister announced on social media platform X that the ban on Itamar Ben-Gvir would take effect immediately.
The French government said the decision was made because the Israeli minister allegedly treated detained aid flotilla volunteers in an inhumane and degrading manner. Some of the detained volunteers were reportedly French citizens.
The French Foreign Minister stated that such treatment of humanitarian volunteers was unacceptable and confirmed that France and Italy are seeking joint European Union sanctions against the Israeli minister.
The controversy intensified after Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing volunteers from the “Global Samood Flotilla” in Israeli detention. In the footage, dozens of volunteers appeared kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground while the Israeli minister mocked them and waved the Israeli flag.
The video carried the caption “Welcome to Israel,” triggering strong international criticism.
Reports state that Israeli forces intercepted and detained more than 400 volunteers from the Global Samood Flotilla in international waters, including 36 French citizens.
Although France had earlier described the naval mission as ineffective, it stressed that intimidation, harassment, or violence against French citizens—especially by government officials—would not be tolerated.
Spain has also urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir, while the United Kingdom summoned a senior Israeli diplomat and lodged an official protest over the controversial video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the treatment of the Samood Flotilla volunteers did not reflect Israeli values, though he declined to remove Ben-Gvir from office.
The “Global Samood Flotilla” had departed from Turkey with nearly 50 boats carrying humanitarian aid intended to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, where severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies continue amid ongoing conflict.
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