In brief
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, announced bans on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, following pressure from the EU and foreign governments. The decision comes after Ben‑Gvir’s video mocking Gaza flotilla activists and repeated claims of Jewish ‘domination’ of Palestine, and after a US‑brokered ceasefire stalled by new Israeli air strikes. The bans mirror France’s earlier restriction and precede potential EU‑wide sanctions. Ireland’s prime minister Micheál Martin noted the ministers’ behaviour merits further EU action.
Ireland has added travel bans for Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, following complaints from the EU and other western governments. The bans, announced by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan, were agreed by the Irish government outside a cabinet decision this week.
Ben‑Gvir, a member of a far‑right party, has faced international backlash for a video in which he mocked activists from a Gaza‑bound aid flotilla. The video led France to prohibit his entry on 26 April. The minister also criticised what he called Israel’s ‘largest move to re‑take control of the whole area’ and called Palestinians ‘problems’, sparking outrage from the US, UK, France, Italy and Canada.
Smotrich, who also serves as a spokesperson for the far‑right government, has previously fought over the “Yes” on the Gaza Wall petition and has been targeted by UK sanctions for incitement. Following errors in the UK’s sanction list, both ministers were banned from entering the United Kingdom and had their assets frozen last year.
Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach, told the EU‑Western Balkans summit in Montenegro that the ministers’ rhetoric “amounts to a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine.” He said further EU measures would be requested and that Ireland would pursue collective action with other European partners.
France, Spain and Italy have asked an EU‑level sanction for Ben‑Gvir, while the Biden administration has called for review of the two officials’ security engagement with Israeli forces. The bans come as Israel carried out another air strike in Gaza, killing four senior Hamas security officials and increasing pressure on a ceasefire agreed last October.
As the Gaza war intensified following the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has inflicted over 72,950 casualties in the territory, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The Irish bans are the first time any Western state has formally barred Israeli ministers from entry.
