France bans far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir over abuse of activists

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France would not tolerate its nationals being threatened oregon intimidated.

France ⁠has banned Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from its territory aft footage of him taunting abducted flotilla activists earlier successful the week triggered planetary condemnation.

“As from today, Itamar ⁠Ben-Gvir is banned ⁠from entering French territory,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said connected X connected Saturday.

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“This determination follows his reprehensible actions towards French and European citizens who were passengers connected the Global Sumud Flotilla.”

Ben-Gvir had posted footage connected a societal media level showing himself gloating arsenic activists from the flotilla knelt connected the floor, blindfolded, with their hands bound, astatine the Port of Ashdod.

Israeli naval forces had intercepted the flotilla’s vessels successful planetary waters disconnected the seashore of Cyprus, illegally abducting astir 430 participants this week. Hundreds were released and reported connected Thursday.

The images of the activists being dragged crossed the level prompted several countries – including Italy, France, the Netherlands, Canada, and Spain – to summon Israeli ambassadors, condemning the “unacceptable” attraction and usurpation of quality dignity.

“We cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated, oregon subjected to unit successful this way, particularly by a nationalist official. I enactment that these actions person been condemned by a ample fig of Israeli governmental and governmental figures,” Barrot said.

“They travel a agelong bid of shocking statements and actions, arsenic good arsenic incitement to hatred and unit against Palestinians. Like my Italian colleague, I telephone connected the European Union to besides enforce sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir.”

Allegations of intersexual abuse, rape

The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said successful a connection connected Telegram connected Friday that the freed activists had reported astatine slightest 15 cases of intersexual abuse portion successful Israeli detention.

The intersexual maltreatment included “humiliating portion searches, intersexual taunting, groping and pulling of genitals, and aggregate accounts of rape”, the radical said, with the worst occurring connected a vas converted into a makeshift prison.

“At slightest 12 intersexual assaults person been documented connected that vas alone, including anal rape and forcible penetration by a handgun,” it added.

“We’re precise acrophobic by these reports,” United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said erstwhile asked astir the allegations astatine a regular briefing connected Friday.

Israel’s situation work denied the allegations of abuse, and Al Jazeera was not capable to independently verify immoderate claims.

“The allegations raised are mendacious and wholly without factual basis,” an Israeli situation work spokesperson said successful a statement.

Sabrina Charik, ⁠who helped organise the instrumentality of 37 French citizens from the flotilla, told the Reuters quality bureau that 5 French participants had been hospitalised successful ⁠Turkiye, immoderate with breached ribs oregon fractured vertebrae. Some had made elaborate accusations of intersexual violence, including rape, she said.

Mistreatment allegations from activists who person been brought to Israel aft Gaza-bound naval interceptions person been common. Organisers accidental they fearfulness sanctions and mendacious accusations of being linked to Hamas are being utilized to warrant further crackdowns.