France’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced Saturday that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was banned with immediate effect from all French territory due to his “reprehensible actions” toward detained activists, including “French and European citizens” from the Gaza flotilla.
“We disapprove of this flotilla’s approach, which produces no useful effect and burdens diplomatic and consular services, whose professionalism and dedication I salute. But we cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated, or brutalized in this way, especially by a public official,” Barrot said in a post on X.
Israeli forces arrested 430 people on board 50 ships in international waters on Tuesday to halt a flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza. The next day, Ben Gvir released a video in which he could be seen taunting the activists as they kneel on the floor, hands bound, immediately sparking an international outcry.
In response, Italy pushed the European Union to adopt sanctions on Ben Gvir, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying Thursday he made a formal request to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for the body to discuss such measures on account of the far-right minister’s “unacceptable actions” against the activists.
“Like my Italian colleague, I call on the European Union to also impose sanctions on Itamar Ben Gvir,” Barrot said.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
Spain has also urged the EU to sanction Ben Gvir and Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday that Warsaw wants to ban Ben Gvir from the country over the incident. Non-EU countries have also forcefully criticized Ben Gvir’s conduct, with even US President Donald Trump’s administration issuing a rare critique branding his actions “despicable.
Barrot noted that Ben Gvir’s actions “follow a long list of shocking statements and actions, incitements to hatred and violence against Palestinians” and have been condemned by “a large number of Israeli government and political figures.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunts detained flotilla activists at Ashdod Port on May 20, 2026. (Screen grab/Ben Gvir’s X account)
Nearly all the activists have since been deported from Israel, after which organizers claimed that several were hospitalized with injuries from Israeli custody and at least 15 reported sexual assaults, including rape. The Israel Prison Service denied the allegations, saying all detained activists were held “in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights,” and received necessary and professional medical care.
Spanish police filmed beating activists expelled by Israel
Barrot’s announcement that France would block Ben Gvir over his conduct toward the flotilla activists came as several of them clashed on Saturday with Spanish police at the airport in Bilbao, where video showed officers beating the activists with batons and dragging them on the floor.
The incident occurred as supporters gathered in the arrivals hall to welcome six campaigners as they arrived on a flight from Turkey after having been expelled from Israel.
When a relative of one of the activists tried to approach them, a police officer forcefully prevented him from doing so, leading to scuffles between both sides, public broadcaster TVE reported.
Images broadcast by the station showed police striking people with batons at the airport and pinning others to the ground while being jeered by onlookers.
We demand an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists. pic.twitter.com/RHMPVAWbwz
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 23, 2026
Four people were arrested for serious disobedience, resisting arrest and assaulting law enforcement officers, the Basque regional police force, the Ertzaintza, said in a statement.
“Following what happened at the airport, the Ertzaintza internal affairs division has launched an investigation to determine whether the officers’ conduct complied with procedures,” it added.
Sharing the video online, Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded to the footage by “demanding an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists.
Around 20 other activists from the flotilla — which included 44 Spanish nationals — landed at Barcelona airport on Saturday, where they were welcomed by supporters, including Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun.
Relations between Spain and Israel have plummeted since Madrid began heavily criticizing Jerusalem over the Gaza war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror atrocities in Israel.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called Israel’s subsequent military campaign against Hamas in Gaza a “genocide” — a charge that Israel firmly denies.
Israel recalled its ambassador after Madrid recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, while Spain formally dismissed its own top envoy in Tel Aviv in March.
Which gorgeous bird do you prefer?
THIS MONTH ONLY: Join our reader support group for as little as $6/month and receive an exclusive tote bag featuring one of Israel’s native birds.
Choose between the Duchifat (orange), Israel’s national bird, or the Shaldag (blue), a beloved symbol of the Israeli landscape.
As a member of the Times of Israel Community, you’ll also enjoy:
An ad-free experience of our site and podcasts.
Exclusive access to award-winning films via DocuNation.
Weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.
Join ToI Community & claim my bag
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You’re a dedicated reader
That’s why we started the Times of Israel – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel