France has banned Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his “unspeakable” behaviour targeting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by his police force.
Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, announced the ban in a post on X. He said: “As of today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory. This decision follows his unspeakable actions toward French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla.”
“We cannot tolerate that French nationals can be threatened, intimidated or brutalised in this way — all the more so by a public official.”
Mr Barrot called on the European Union to also sanction Mr Ben-Gvir.
The Associated Press has sought comment from Mr Ben-Gvir’s spokesperson and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This week, Mr Ben-Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists.
In one clip, he is seen waving a large Israeli flag over hunched-over detainees whose hands appear to be bound.
In another, he taunts a kneeling detainee whose wrists are zip-tied, yelling “Am Yisrael Chai” at him — Hebrew for “The nation of Israel lives”.
In a third, detainees can be seen — foreheads to the floor of an outdoor pen — as the Israeli national anthem plays and armed guards encircle them.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with…
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 20, 2026
Foreign leaders — and even coalition partner Mr Netanyahu — condemned Mr Ben-Gvir’s on-camera treatment of some 430 flotilla detainees.
In his post, the French minister was also critical of flotilla activists, who were attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
“We disapprove of this flotilla’s approach, which produces no useful effect and places an additional burden on diplomatic and consular services,” Mr Barrot wrote.
The flotilla of 50 boats was intercepted in international waters some 250 miles off the coast of Israel.
Detained activists accused Israeli forces of mistreatment, describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs.
Poland has also barred Mr Ben-Gvir, announcing a five-year-ban on Thursday.
“In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody,” Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said.