France says Israeli authorities deport 37 French nationals who were detained while on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, sending them to Turkey, according to statements reported on Thursday. France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said a senior Israeli diplomat was summoned in Paris to convey France’s anger over Israeli actions connected to the flotilla.
The dispute follows the release of a video by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. France says the video shows the minister taunting detained activists, which prompted the diplomatic protest. French officials describe the move to deport the French nationals as an immediate development but indicate it is too early to discuss broader measures such as sanctions against the minister.
Israel has not been described in the reporting provided as disputing the French account of the deportations or France’s characterization of the video. The reported events center on the handling of French citizens detained during the attempt to deliver aid to Gaza, and on France’s diplomatic response to the video featuring Ben Gvir.
