After the action against activists of a Gaza aid fleet, France is demanding EU sanctions against Israel’s Minister Ben-Gvir. A video sparked fierce international criticism.
After the controversial action against Gaza activists, France imposed an entry ban on Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. “This decision is a reaction to his inexcusable behavior towards French and European citizens who were traveling as passengers of the Global Smud Flotilla,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Platform X.
A video of the minister, which showed arrested Gaza activists in a humiliating manner, had previously sparked international outrage. It can be seen how the minister is walking around with a group of supporters and between handcuffed activists and waving an Israeli flag.
Barrot emphasized that one cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated or mistreated in this way, even by a public official. The actions are part of a long list of “shocking statements and actions” as well as “calls to hatred and violence against the Palestinians”.
Demands for EU sanctions
Barrot called on the European Union, like Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani, to impose sanctions against Ben-Gvir. According to Tajani, the EU foreign ministers should decide on punitive measures at their next meeting.
Several foreign ministers of European countries had condemned the procedure. A spokesman for the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said the treatment of the activists was “totally unacceptable”. According to the Foreign Office, several activists from Germany deported by Israel to Turkey were injured. A spokesman confirmed criticism of the federal government and a “humiliating treatment” of those arrested in Israel.
Israel had stopped the Gaza aid fleet of more than 50 boats in international waters near Cyprus at the beginning of the week. Around 430 activists wanted to break through the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Source: Tageblatt
