France has made history by becoming the first Western country to expel Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from its borders after his recent incendiary calls to annex the West Bank and to “recolonise” Gaza. On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barre made the shocking announcement of France’s decision, which comes as the latest in a series of moves that reflect increasingly strained relations between Paris and the far-right element in Jerusalem. While this ban is seen by many to be little more than symbolic, it actually reflects France’s increasing condemnation of Smotrich’s annexation rhetoric.
This follows weeks of increasing pressure put by various governments in Europe on Israeli officials whose statements had been increasingly breaking international protocols relating to human rights, well-being of civilians, and possibilities of achieving peace in the region. Smotrich, who is part of the Religious Zionist party, which is on the far right, has received increasing international condemnation for his annexationist stance and statements regarding the civilian population of Gaza.
France’s Official Stance and Rationale
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barre delivered a forceful statement explaining the rationale behind the ban, leaving no ambiguity about France’s position.
“France banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, slamming him for actively promoting the annexation of the West Bank and the ‘recolonisation’ of Gaza”,
Barre stated during a press briefing in Paris. The French government’s language was deliberately strong, choosing the term “recolonisation” to evoke the painful historical legacy of colonial domination and to underscore the illegitimacy of Smotrich’s proposed policies under international law.
The French Foreign Ministry’s decision was not impulsive but rather the culmination of sustained diplomatic deliberation. Ministry officials cited Smotrich’s repeated public advocacy for annexation as incompatible with France’s commitment to international law, human rights, and the two-state solution framework that has long guided European Middle East policy. The ministry emphasized that Smotrich’s rhetoric directly undermines prospects for peace and violates fundamental principles of the Geneva Conventions regarding occupied territories.
Smotrich’s Controversial Policy Proposals
Bezalel Smotrich has long been associated with ultranationalist positions that place him at the extreme right of Israel’s political spectrum. His policy proposals regarding Gaza have drawn particular scrutiny from international observers. In August 2025, Smotrich publicly called for a phased annexation of Gaza, stating
“Israel’s Smotrich calls for phased Gaza annexation if Hamas does not disarm”.
Hamas immediately condemned these remarks, labeling them
“an official call to exterminate Palestinians”,
according to Al Jazeera’s reporting.
Smotrich’s vision for Gaza extends beyond mere military control. He has described the territory as potentially becoming a “real estate bonanza” for Israel, suggesting that post-conflict Gaza could be transformed into a development opportunity for Israeli settlers and investors. In September 2025, BBC reported that
“Bezalel Smotrich, an ultranationalist who has been sanctioned by the UK and others, said he was in discussion with the US over the idea”
of partitioning Gaza and integrating portions of it into Israeli economic and administrative structures.
Such plans have received considerable criticism from international lawyers, claiming that the act of annexing occupied territories contravenes the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as multiple UN resolutions. Recolonization, the term used by the French in their proposal, directly relates to the illegality of establishing civilian settlement in occupied territories, which is illegal according to international humanitarian law.
Previous French Condemnations of Smotrich
France’s relationship with Smotrich has been fraught with tension for nearly two years. The French government’s first major public condemnation occurred in August 2024, when Smotrich made remarks that shocked even traditional allies of Israel. At the Katif Conference for National Responsibility, collaborating with Israel Hayom, Smotrich stated that
“there might be a moral justification for starving two million citizens in Gaza to death to free hostages”.
The French Foreign Ministry responded with unprecedented severity.
“France is deeply shocked by the appalling remarks”
made by Smotrich, the ministry’s spokesman declared on August 6, 2024. The statement continued, noting that France was
“appalled by Smotrich’s remarks justifying starving Gaza residents”.
This condemnation represented one of the strongest public rebukes France had issued against an Israeli government member in recent years.
The European Union also joined the condemnation, with the High Representative issuing a statement that
“The European Union strongly condemns recent declarations of Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich at the Katif Annual Conference”.
The EU’s position underscored that Smotrich’s remarks violated fundamental European values regarding human dignity and the protection of civilian populations during conflicts.
France’s Second Israeli Minister Ban in Recent Months
The ban on Smotrich follows a similar action taken by France less than three weeks earlier. On May 23, 2026, France banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering French territory. According to Deutsche Welle,
“France bans Israel minister Ben-Gvir after flotilla video”,
referring to a video Ben-Gvir released that taunted activists detained from a Gaza aid flotilla. The French government described Ben-Gvir’s behavior as “unspeakable”, according to Al Jazeera’s May 24, 2026 report.
The banning of Smotrich shows that he is the second Israeli minister to be banned from French territories in a few months according to a statement by Le Monde made on June 9, 2026. This implies that there is a systematic approach by France in dealing with the Israeli far-right leaders, taking steps from diplomatic approaches towards actual punitive steps. The synchronization of the banning process points out a clear indication of the coordination among French authorities to set boundaries for acceptable Israeli leaders.
In this case, the French government seems to have made it clear that these measures are not a one-time event but part of an overall plan to keep Israel’s policymakers responsible for their behavior and policies, which go against the rules set by international bodies. It is significant how close in time Smotrich’s ban was to that of Ben-Gvir’s.
International Sanctions and Travel Bans on Smotrich
The international isolation of Smotrich has been increasing consistently. In June 2025, the United Kingdom banned Smotrich due to his involvement in “inciting violence” against the Palestinians, based on reports by BBC. Smotrich’s actions and speeches have been classified as violent incitement by the United Kingdom’s Home Office.
Travel restrictions have been introduced by five nations in regard to both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, which indicates an organized international reaction to Israel’s most controversial ministers. Travel restrictions for both ministers to enter Slovenia were enforced in July 2025, as both were accused of instigating “extreme violence and serious human rights abuses” on Palestinian citizens. The coordinated action highlights the extent to which the international reputation of Smotrich has been diminishing.
This adds up to be quite a considerable impact that such sanctions have had on him. Smotrich, who was previously in such roles as could take him overseas to participate in diplomacy missions, conferences, and talks, is now faced with a lot of restrictions when it comes to traveling overseas.
Broader Implications for France-Israel Relations
Not only does France’s ban on Smotrich affect him personally but it also serves as an indication that France’s attitude towards Israel has changed. France refuses to allow Israeli officials who do not reflect France’s ideals and its commitment to international law free access into the country. With France joining other European countries taking a more firm stance on Israeli occupation policies, the ban on Smotrich is just a part of France’s larger plan.
In essence, the ban on Smotrich by France also indicates Europe’s growing dissatisfaction with the current trend within Israel led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the religious right wing and its political parties hold considerable sway, with Smotrich representing the Religious Zionist party and Ben-Gvir the Otzma Yehudit party.
European diplomatic circles have noted that France’s actions may precipitate similar measures from other EU member states. The coordinated nature of existing sanctions suggests potential for expanded international pressure on Israel’s far-right leadership. This development could influence Israel’s domestic political calculations, as coalition partners face increasing international consequences for their rhetoric and policies.
Legal and Diplomatic Precedents
The underlying legal justification for the French ban is drawn from national provisions on immigration powers, which authorize the denial of entry of foreign nationals whose entry into the country would run counter to national interests and/or public order. Whereas it is common practice for entry bans to be imposed by countries in the context of international relations, there is an increase in the severity of the act since they now target members of sitting governments.
The diplomatic significance of the act comes from the precedent that it has set. Through the ban on entry for a finance minister of a country, it has shown that having a position in government does not mean being immune from such acts as the country sees fit.
International legal experts have noted that the ban aligns with growing international consensus that officials who advocate for policies violating international humanitarian law should face consequences. The use of the term “recolonisation” specifically invokes legal frameworks prohibiting colonial practices and occupation-based settlement, strengthening the legal justification for France’s position.
The Path Forward
In light of the above as France imposes such a ban, the major issue is whether Smotrich will respect the outcome or try and challenge this move diplomatically. With such a firm political stand, this individual may not find the imposed ban to be a motivation for change in his stances but a reason to hold on to his position even more firmly. The pressure that will be brought about by the isolation from the rest of the world by way of travel bans and sanctions could however influence the Israeli government to rethink their politics.
Middle Eastern peace talks hang in the balance as such diplomatic relations continue. It becomes clear that there is a widening gap between the diplomatic approaches favored by Europe and the political positions that are taken by Israel’s present administration.
France’s ban on Smotrich stands as a definitive statement: international accountability for human rights violations and occupation policies extends even to sitting government ministers, and nations will increasingly employ concrete measures to enforce these principles.
