Ireland bans entry to Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich over Palestinian displacement policies
Justice Minister instructs immigration officers to refuse entry as Dublin calls for EU-level sanctions against far-right politicians.
Ireland has formally barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the state, citing their support for policies aimed at displacing Palestinians and their conduct towards pro-Palestinian activists. Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed the travel ban on Friday, describing the ministers’ positions as amounting to “a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine”.
The decision follows widespread condemnation of Ben-Gvir after he shared video footage of himself mocking pro-Palestinian activists who were detained as part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month. The footage showed the activists kneeling, blindfolded, and with their hands bound. Martin stated that the ministers’ behaviour justified sanctions at the European Union level, although he acknowledged that securing sufficient support across the bloc may be challenging.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to both ministers if they attempt to enter the country. The ban reinforces Dublin’s diplomatic stance following its recognition of the Palestinian state in 2024, a move that led Israel to order the closure of its embassy in Dublin. Since the escalation of attacks on Gaza, Ireland has been among the most outspoken critics of Israeli military operations.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, having entered government in 2022 following an alliance with Smotrich’s far-right Religious Zionist party. Smotrich, who resides in an illegal Israeli settlement, has been a vocal advocate for the annexation of the occupied West Bank and has stated he hopes to “kill the idea” of a Palestinian state. Ben-Gvir has similarly supported the annexation of Palestinian territories.
The travel restrictions align Ireland with other European nations that have previously banned the ministers. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have faced entry bans from Britain, Spain, and Slovenia due to their conduct. France also banned Ben-Gvir from entering the country last month. Martin announced the new measures while addressing a summit in Montenegro, signalling Ireland’s continued diplomatic pressure on Israeli policy regarding the West Bank and Gaza.
