Paris opens investigation into Israel's war crimes against French

On Friday  , June 5, the French Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into Israel's war crimes and torture against French activists who participated in the Global Resilience Flotilla to break the blockade of Gaza.

The French newspaper "Le Monde" reported that the Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office spoke in a statement about the opening of an investigation into Israel's commission of a war crime and torture against French activists who participated in the Al-Sumud Flotilla.

The office said the investigation was conducted "at the request of the government, after activists accused the Israeli authorities of mistreating them during their detention last month."

On May 18, the Israeli occupation forces attacked the boats of the "Steadfastness Flotilla" in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, numbering about 50 boats, with 428 activists from 44 countries on board, and arrested all of them.

Ireland bars BnGvir and Smotrich from entering its territory

On Friday, the Irish government issued a decision to ban the two extremist Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country, against the background of their statements inciting the extermination of Palestinians.

The Irish Times reported that officials in the country "have been instructed to prevent any attempt by the hardline Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, to travel to the country."

The newspaper quoted Irish Prime Minister Michel Martin as confirming the travel ban, saying that "instructions have been issued to prevent Israeli politicians from entering the country."

Speaking to the press in the Montenegrin city of Tivat, where he was attending a meeting of EU leaders and their counterparts from the Western Balkans, Martin said: "As I understand, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has instructed his officials to prevent any travel to Ireland for both Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich."

Martin: Extending the ban to the EU

The newspaper pointed out that the Irish government recently condemned the publication of Ben-Gvir, a video clip in which he mocks activists who were on board the Al-Sumud flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, after they were detained by Israeli forces.

Martin said the statements of the two Israeli ministers "in essence amount to a desire to exterminate the Palestinians," adding: "This is something that the international community must take into account, and we will seek to discuss it with other parties."

The Irish Prime Minister considered that the positions of the two ministers justify the imposition of comprehensive sanctions on them at the level of the entire European Union, stressing that Dublin will seek to mobilize support for this approach.

The decision is part of a series of European bans, as  Ireland is not the first to do so, as its decision joins similar steps taken by other European countries that have banned the entry of the two ministers or one of them, most notably France, Britain, Spain and Slovenia.

Ireland to pass 'occupied territory' law

The  Irish government is racing against time to pass the "Occupied Territories" bill by mid-July 2026, which would formally ban the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank despite Israeli opposition and growing US pressure.

The Irish government approved  the final version of the bill after a lengthy legal review, with the debate over its scope resolved to include only "goods," not services, and Prime Minister Michel Martin linked the exclusion to fears that it would harm major U.S. companies based in Ireland that could have a negative impact on the Irish economy.

The move has drawn sharp domestic criticism, with opposition  parties and rights groups such as Trócaire accusing  the government of "emptying the law of its content", arguing that the value of goods imported from settlements does not exceed 200,000 euros a year, making the ban "symbolic" unless it includes the wider service sector.

 The current draft provides for criminalizing the import of settlement goods as a customs violation, with penalties of up to 250,000 euros and additional fines, as well as up to five years in prison for individuals or companies that violate them.