France bans Israeli security minister Ben-Gvir from country
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. โFrom today, Itamar Ben Gvir is banned from entering French territoryโ after โhis reprehensible actions towards French and European citizensโ 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 Gvirโs 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 โWelcome to Israelโ, 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 Israelโs most senior diplomat in Britain following โthe inflammatory videoโ. Images showing Ben Gvir taunting members of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla are unacceptable, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. โWe will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens,โ Sanchez said on X, adding his government would push for Ben Gvirโs ban to enter Spain to be extended to the whole European Union urgently. British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said she was โtruly appalledโ 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. โWe have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved,โ Cooper said. Several other world leaders also criticised Ben Gvirโs actions. European Council President Antonio Costa said he was โappalledโ by the treatment of aid flotilla members attempting to enter Gaza by Ben Gvir. โAppalled by the treatment of flotilla members by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir. This behaviour is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release,โ 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 โdegrading and wrongโ. โIsraeli Minister Ben Gvirโs conduct is unbecoming of anyone holding office in a democracy,โ she added. โThe images we have seen posted by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir โ who Australia has sanctioned โ are shocking and unacceptable,โ Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced what he said were the national security ministerโs โdespicable actionsโ. โUniversal outrage and condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official โฆ for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was a stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation,โ Huckabee wrote on X. New Zealandโs Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the country will summon Israelโs ambassador to air โgrave concernsโ about the treatment of the detained activists. โWe expect Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of New Zealanders participating in the flotilla,โ 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 Israelโs blockade of Gaza, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.