Ireland has imposed travel bans on Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister, following their controversial actions and statements regarding Palestinians, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin confirmed.

The bans, introduced by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, instruct immigration officers to refuse entry to the ministers if they attempt to enter Ireland.

The decision was made outside of a formal cabinet process, according to a BBC report.

Martin told the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Montenegro that the ministers’ behaviour “amounts to a desire to see the elimination of Palestinians from Palestine” and called for broader EU-level sanctions.

France, Spain, and Italy have also urged EU action against Ben-Gvir.

Last month, France banned Ben-Gvir after he posted a video mocking activists seized by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

The United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Canada condemned the video, while Israeli regime leader Benjamin Netanyahu termed it as inconsistent with Israel’s values.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have faced international sanctions before.

In 2023, the UK, Australia, Norway, Canada, and New Zealand barred them from entry and froze their assets, citing “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities.”

The travel bans come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in October 2023, Israel recently carried out air strikes against Palestinians.

The Israeli military operations have so far killed over 72,950 Palestinians in Gaza.