France has barred Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country following the release of footage showing him overseeing the humiliation of detained Gaza-bound flotilla activists, as deported participants accused Israeli authorities of torture, sexual abuse, and degrading treatment while in custody.
The controversy erupted after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters last week, detaining more than 430 activists aboard the aid vessels. The detainees were later deported to several countries, including Türkiye, Italy, and Greece, with many arriving on May 21 wearing grey prison tracksuits and keffiyehs while being welcomed by supporters and family members.
Several activists alleged they were subjected to physical assaults, sexual abuse, humiliation, and torture during their detention in Israel.
Italian journalist Alessandro Mantovani told reporters at Rome’s Fiumicino airport that activists were transported “in handcuffs and with chains on our feet” before being flown to Athens.
“They kicked us and punched us and shouted ‘Welcome to Israel’,” he said, alleging that Israeli soldiers beat detainees during their transfer.
Miriam Azem, representing the Israeli rights group Adalah, said one activist “was forced to strip naked and run while guards were laughing”.
Another activist said in a video interview that Israeli soldiers dragged her while her hands and feet were tightly bound, leaving her hands numb. “They laughed all the time. Super sadistic,” she said. “They took off my shirt, took pictures. Mistreated us all night long.”
Australian activist Juliet Lamont alleged that she was “tied with cables, water tortured and sexually assaulted”, adding that several detainees suffered broken ribs, were tased in the face, and injected with unidentified sedatives.
Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, who had previously been detained during another flotilla mission, published a video alleging that activists were “raped” by Israeli soldiers during transport to the port of Ashdod.
Adalah condemned Israel’s actions, describing the raid in international waters and the subsequent detention of activists as “a flagrant violation of international law”, citing what it called “systemic torture, humiliation, and arbitrary detention”.
The allegations intensified international criticism after footage circulated online showing Itamar Ben Gvir waving an Israeli flag and confronting detained activists while Israeli prison officers forced them to kneel on the ground.
The video prompted condemnation from several governments and international officials. Antonio Costa said he was “appalled” by the footage, while countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France summoned Israeli diplomats in protest.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Saturday that France had banned Ben Gvir from entering the country due to his “unacceptable conduct towards French and European citizens”.
“We cannot tolerate French nationals being threatened, intimidated or subjected to violence in this way, especially by a public official,” Barrot wrote on X.
He added that Ben Gvir’s behaviour followed “a long series of shocking statements and actions, as well as incitement to hatred and violence against Palestinians”, and voiced support for Italy’s proposal that the European Union impose sanctions on the Israeli minister.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the scenes in the video as “totally disgraceful”, while Türkiye accused Israel of displaying a “violent and barbaric mindset”.
Among those deported was Margaret Connolly, who told Irish media that the treatment of detainees reminded activists “of what the Jews felt like during the Second World War”, accusing Israel of “acting like a Nazi state”.
