France bans entry to Israeli minister Ben-Gvir. Gaza, 5 policemen killed in IDF raid

The Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from today "is banned from entering French territory": this was announced on X by the head of diplomacy in Paris, Jean-Noël Barrot. "This decision follows his unspeakable behaviour towards French and European citizens who are passengers on the Global Sumud flotilla," he added, claiming however that the government of which he is a member "disapproves of the initiative" of the Flotilla itself. Yesterday, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas agreed to Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's request to work on sanctions against Israeli minister Ben Gvir who had mocked Flotilla activists as they were humiliated by IDF soldiers.

For his part, Italy's deputy prime minister and foreign minister returned to the subject: 'We must ensure that Gaza can proceed with the second phase after the truce: reconstruction, the resumption of normal life, the arrival of humanitarian aid'. And with regard to the war front in Lebanon, he said: 'We believe that Italia can play an important role there too, especially in strengthening the legitimate institutions. It is another very delicate front together with the Syrian one'. Tajani spoke in connection with the Economy Festival in Trento. "Israel realises that there is a limit beyond which one cannot go. We are friends of Israel, but being friends also means being sincere. Yesterday," the minister recalled, "there was a document signed by the four big European countries: Italia, Germany, France and Great Britain, then other countries joined in, to say enough is enough to the actions of the settlers, occupying the territories of the Palestinian National Authority also compromises the peace strategy to have two peoples, two states. We were very tough, after what happened with the flotilla activists, with Minister Ben-Gvir. And it seems to me that even today the French foreign minister supported the Italian position, that is, to sanction as soon as possible the minister of national security who was responsible for the unworthy acts we witnessed watching television the other day'. Italia wants to have 'an active role of dialogue, of constant presence, both at European and bilateral level. And I insist a lot on the issue of Lebanon, because I believe we could play an important role there'.

Also on X came the announcement that the Netherlands has decided to ban the import of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma wrote this. "We thus send a strong signal to Israel. The Netherlands does not intend to contribute to the maintenance of this illegal situation. The International Court of Justice has ruled that the Israeli occupation is illegal and that large parts of the West Bank are being annexed. This situation must end. That is why we are taking these measures and we continue to urge Europe to do the same,' he added.

Five Palestinian police officers were killed in an Israeli air raid in the north of the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the al-Chifa hospital in Gaza city and the local police, which operates under Hamas authority. According to the hospital, in addition to the five dead, there are also several wounded, one of whom is in critical condition, after an Israeli attack hit a police post in the al-Tuam area. The Gaza police reported that the checkpoint was reportedly hit by two rockets. An Israeli military source confirmed to Afp that the army targeted 'Hamas terrorists' in the area.

On the situation in Gaza and