France has banned Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering French territory and called on the European Union to impose sanctions against him.
The move marks a significant diplomatic escalation between Paris and Jerusalem, signaling that France views the minister's behavior toward foreign nationals as a breach of international norms.
The decision follows the release of a video showing Ben-Gvir taunting activists associated with a flotilla attempting to reach Gaza. French officials described the minister's actions as "reprehensible" and "unspeakable," and said the behavior threatened or intimidated French citizens [1, 3].
Jean-Noël Barrot said, "France will not tolerate its nationals being threatened or intimidated" [3]. Barrot also said, "We will not remain silent while a foreign minister taunts detained activists on video" [2].
The incident occurred amidst broader tensions surrounding the Gaza-flotilla efforts. In related context, Israel deported approximately 430 foreign flotilla activists [4].
French authorities are now urging the EU to implement sanctions against Ben-Gvir to ensure accountability for the treatment of activists. The ban remains in effect for all French territories [1, 3].
“"France will not tolerate its nationals being threatened or intimidated."”
This diplomatic rupture reflects a growing divide between France and the current Israeli government over the treatment of civilians and activists. By seeking EU-wide sanctions, France is attempting to move beyond a bilateral dispute to establish a multilateral precedent against the conduct of high-ranking officials who target foreign nationals.
