France bars Israeli minister Ben-Gvir from entering French territory

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced at an extraordinary press conference Friday at the Quai d'Orsay residence in Paris that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been barred from entering French territory. Explaining the rationale, Barrot said that President Emmanuel Macron had reviewed independently documented evidence indicating Ben-Gvir's 'participation in degrading treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla activists while they were in handcuffs.' The cabinet decree signed by Macron specifies the ban will also be entered into the Schengen air-control database and will affect diplomatic-passport rights.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in a Brussels briefing that 'France's decision is an important step' and called on other member states to consider similar measures. Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard called the ban 'a courageous and necessary step,' while Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced he would raise the issue at Monday's cabinet meeting. Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Harris said via X that 'we will conduct an assessment within the EU legal framework.'

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said via X that 'France's decision is unacceptable and damages allied relations.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet spokesperson Yair Lapid (opposition leadership) declined to comment. Le Monde's Quai d'Orsay sources indicate that France is 'actively evaluating' similar bans against three other Israeli ministers; the European Council's Legal Affairs Committee plans to add the matter to Monday's extraordinary agenda. The measure could be extended to all 27 EU states if other Schengen members co-sign.