France bans Israeli security minister Ben Gvir from country

France banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering French territory after actions toward French and European citizens involved in a humanitarian aid flotilla. The ban followed a video showing activists detained in international waters and awaiting deportation at Ashdod. The video depicted activists forced to kneel with foreheads to the ground and hands tied, with Ben Gvir heckling them while waving an Israeli flag under the caption “Welcome to Israel.” Italy and France called for European Union-level sanctions, and Spain urged EU sanctions. The United Kingdom summoned Israel’s senior diplomat over the video. Netanyahu said the treatment was not aligned with Israel’s values and norms and previously described the aid mission as a malicious scheme supporting Hamas. The flotilla departed from Turkey on about 50 vessels and was part of attempts to breach Israel’s Gaza blockade.

"From today, Itamar Ben Gvir is banned from entering French territory after his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens who were part of the humanitarian flotilla, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X."

"They were detained by Israel in international waters and were awaiting deportation at the southern port of Ashdod. 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 “Welcome to Israel”, also showed Ben Gvir heckling the activists while waving an Israeli flag."

"He added that, with Italy, he was also calling for European Union-level sanctions against the far-right Israeli minister. Spain has also urged the EU to sanction Ben Gvir while the United Kingdom summoned Israel's most senior diplomat in Britain following “the inflammatory video”."

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Ben Gvir's treatment of the activists was “not in line with Israel's values and norms”. Netanyahu had earlier denounced the humanitarian aid mission as a “malicious scheme” intended to support Hamas."

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