France has officially banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, citing his support for the annexation of the occupied West Bank and his calls for the “recolonisation” of Gaza. This decision was part of a broader sanctions package involving several countries, including Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, targeting individuals linked to escalating settler violence and settlement expansion. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned Smotrich's positions as detrimental to international efforts aimed at achieving a two-state solution, accusing him of promoting policies that destabilize the region. Alongside Smotrich's ban, France imposed restrictions on four leaders of settler organizations and 21 settlers involved in violence against Palestinians. The UK has also announced similar measures targeting networks financing settler attacks. Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions, describing them as politically motivated opposition to Jewish settlements rather than genuine concerns about violence. The sanctions reflect growing international criticism of the hardline policies of Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, amid ongoing violence and scrutiny of Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and Gaza.