Israel deport French journalist Alice Froussard amid diplomatic row
The expulsion of the FRANCE 24 correspondent follows France’s recent ban on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, escalating tensions between the two nations.
Israeli authorities have deported French journalist Alice Froussard from Tel Aviv’s international airport, accusing her of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The decision, announced by the Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, has drawn sharp condemnation from French media organisations, who argue the move obstructs press freedom.
Froussard, who covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for Radio France Internationale (RFI) and Radio France, was denied entry on Wednesday afternoon. Despite holding valid press visas and travel authorisation for the occupied West Bank, she was required to spend the night at the airport before being placed on a flight back to Paris on Thursday morning.
Minister Chikli stated that Froussard sought to return to Israel on a permanent basis and was deported on the ministry’s recommendation. He accused the reporter of supporting Hamas, though no specific evidence was detailed in the public announcement. The deportation order was issued hours after her arrival, bypassing standard entry protocols for accredited journalists.
RFI and the FRANCE 24 journalists’ association (SDJ) strongly criticised the decision. In a joint statement, RFI noted that Israeli authorities provided no justification for the expulsion, despite Froussard having duly applied for the necessary credentials. The broadcaster described the act as an obstacle to press freedom, highlighting the increasing difficulties journalists face when covering current events in the region.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic friction between Israel and France. Two days prior to Froussard’s deportation, France announced an entry ban on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. French authorities accused Smotrich of promoting the annexation of the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967. The SDJ noted that Froussard’s case is part of a troubling trend of tightening restrictions on media personnel operating in the area.
