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Poland targets Israeli minister with entry ban over flotilla incident

21.05.2026 15:30
Poland on Thursday launched formal proceedings to ban Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country after international criticism of a video showing him mocking detained pro-Palestinian activists, including Polish citizens.
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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.Photo: דוד דנברג, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said on X that he had instructed officials to begin the process of placing Ben-Gvir on Poland's list of undesirable foreign nationals.

The move came after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sikorski formally requested the ban, state news agency PAP reported.

"On this matter, I share the same opinion as Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski," Kierwiński wrote.

The controversy followed the publication of a video by Ben-Gvir showing detained activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian convoy attempting to reach Gaza by sea.

The footage showed dozens of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands bound while Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag and shouted in Hebrew: "This is how we welcome supporters of terrorism. Welcome to Israel—we are in charge here."

The video drew condemnation from several countries, including Poland, Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Maciej Wewiór said the decision was influenced by what he described as a broader pattern of statements and actions by Ben-Gvir.

"This is not the first time the Israeli minister has behaved in this way," Wewiór told reporters.

Poland summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires and demanded an apology over the incident.

Wewiór said Polish officials conveyed their "outrage" during a meeting with the Israeli diplomat in Warsaw earlier on Thursday, though no apology was offered.

He added that Poland opposed escalation by either side in the Middle East conflict and objected to the suffering of civilians, particularly Palestinians in Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla departed last week from the Turkish port of Marmaris carrying humanitarian aid intended for Gaza.

According to organisers, Israeli forces intercepted 50 vessels in recent days and detained 428 people, including Polish citizens.

Wewiór said the detained Polish activists had since been released and were on their way to Turkey.

He added that Polish diplomats coordinated with Turkish authorities and other countries whose citizens were aboard the flotilla vessels.

International outcry

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he was "appalled at the shocking behaviour of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir towards illegally detained members of the Sumud Flotilla."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a travel ban on Ben-Gvir and said he would push for the measure to be adopted across the European Union.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the minister’s conduct "unacceptable" and a violation of human dignity.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the treatment was "degrading and wrong" and that Ben-Gvir’s behaviour was "unbecoming of anyone holding office in a democracy."

Even the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, known for his pro-Israel views, said the minister's "despicable actions" had "betrayed the dignity of his nation."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that his country "has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters" from entering its territorial waters and reaching Gaza.

"However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms," he added.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla, an international movement seeking to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there, sent around 70 vessels carrying activists from 56 countries.

Israeli forces boarded the boats in international waters, detaining more than 420 people, according to reports.

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Source: IAR, PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Agnieszka Łaszczuk.