France bans Israeli security minister Ben Gvir from country

Key Points:

• French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced a ban on far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering France due to his actions against French and European activists involved in a humanitarian flotilla to Gaza.
• Barrot, along with Italy, is advocating for European Union-level sanctions against Ben Gvir following a video showing harsh treatment of detained activists by Israeli forces, which sparked international condemnation.
• The flotilla, consisting of about 50 vessels and including 36 French nationals, aimed to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza but was intercepted, with activists detained and later deported by Israel.
• While France disapproved of the flotilla's attempt, it condemned the intimidation and mistreatment of its nationals by a public official, a stance echoed by Spain and the UK, which also called for sanctions and diplomatic responses.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the flotilla as a scheme supporting Hamas but maintained Ben Gvir in his security minister role despite acknowledging the minister's conduct was inconsistent with Israeli values.