France says settler violence justifies its sanctions against Israeli minister Ben Gvir

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot denounced settler violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on August 19, 2026. He stated that such acts were disgraceful and should disgust everyone. Barrot announced that these violent incidents justified the sanctions France had recently imposed on Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

In May, France had already banned Ben Gvir from entering French territory due to his inhumane comments. The minister reiterated the possibility of imposing further sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in such violence. In June, Britain, Canada, France, and Norway had coordinated sanctions against Israeli networks allegedly involved in financing, enabling, and carrying out violence in the West Bank.