Israel's Police Minister barred from France over Gaza flotilla activists' mockery

France has imposed an entry ban on Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing his "unacceptable behavior" towards French and other European nationals detained as part of a Gaza aid flotilla. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the decision via X, formerly Twitter.

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Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords here.

The ban was a direct response to a video Ben-Gvir posted on X, showing activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla bound and kneeling in the Israeli port city of Ashdod. In the video, Ben-Gvir is heard taunting the activists, saying, "Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords here."

The flotilla's stated aim was to establish a humanitarian corridor and break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. While the French government expressed disapproval of the flotilla's actions, deeming them ineffective and burdensome to diplomatic services, Barrot emphasized that the mistreatment of French citizens is unacceptable.

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We cannot accept that French citizens are threatened, intimidated, or mistreated in this way.

Barrot further characterized Ben-Gvir's actions as part of a "long list of shocking statements and actions, and incitement to hatred and violence against Palestinians." He called on the European Union to impose similar sanctions against Ben-Gvir. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar have distanced themselves from Ben-Gvir's conduct, with Sa'ar stating that the minister had "knowingly caused damage to our state with this shameful performance – and not for the first time."

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They have knowingly caused damage to our state with this shameful performance – and not for the first time.