France Bans Israeli Minister Ben Gvir from Its Territory

France has banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering its territory. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the decision on Saturday, linking it to outrage over Israel's treatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla.

"As from today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory", Barrot wrote on X.

"Along with my Italian counterpart, I am asking the European Union to also take sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir", he added.

The Global Sumud Flotilla Initiative said on Monday that the Israeli navy had detained 16 of its ships bound for the Gaza Strip. Activists from the initiative are attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave, which has been in place since 2007, and deliver humanitarian aid to the territory.

(reuters, lud)