Ireland bans hard-line Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich: What to know
Ireland joined France and the United Kingdom in banning Israel's far-right and pro-settler ministers.
Ireland's Justice Ministry announced on Friday that it had barred Israeli hard-line ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.
What happened: Speaking to reporters in Montenegro, Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin said the ministers’ actions and statements “amount to a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine,” adding that he believes the European Union should adopt additional measures against them.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who serve as ministers of national security and finance, respectively, have been outspoken advocates for Israel's military campaigns in Gaza and the West Bank and have a long history of controversy.
“In my view, their behavior justifies sanctions at the EU level as well, and that’s something we will raise. Whether we can secure sufficient support across the European Union is a different matter,” Martin said.
Flotilla footage: Friday’s decision was reportedly driven in part by footage posted on social media on May 20 by Ben-Gvir during a visit to a Gaza-bound flotilla that had been intercepted by the Israeli military. The video, which sparked international criticism, showed detained activists kneeling with their hands tied and their foreheads on the ground. Ben-Gvir was seen taunting and insulting the detainees.
Following the publication of the footage, France barred Ben-Gvir from entering the country. The United Kingdom had already imposed similar measures on both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in June 2025, citing their “repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian communities” in the West Bank.
Ireland has long supported punitive measures against Israel over the war in Gaza, the occupation of the West Bank and settler violence.
Know more: Together with Norway and Spain, Ireland recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024. Since then, Dublin has advocated suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs the legal, economic and political relationship between Israel and the European Union.
