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Israel deports 37 French nationals on Gaza flotilla to Turkey, France says

By Thomson Reuters May 21, 2026 | 8:35 AM

PARIS, May 21 (Reuters) – Israeli authorities are currently deporting 37 French nationals ​who were part ‌of the group of activists on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to Turkey, ‌France’s ​Foreign ministry spokesperson ⁠said on Thursday.

Speaking ⁠to reporters in a weekly news briefing, Pascal Confavreux said a senior ​Israeli diplomat had been summoned by the ⁠ministry earlier ⁠on Thursday to ​express Paris’ anger in response ​to a video released ‌by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in which the minister ⁠is seen taunting detained Gaza flotilla activists.

Confavreux added that it ⁠was ‌too early for ⁠now to talk ​about ‌imposing sanctions on Ben ​Gvir ⁠after an earlier call by Italy’s foreign minister to do so.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Hugh ​Lawson)