French journalist expelled from Israel over alleged support for Hamas

The Population and Immigration Authority today, Thursday, expelled French journalist Alice Froussard from Israel. She had lived for the past six years in the Jerusalem and Ramallah area and worked for leading media outlets in France.

According to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, the reason was her claim that the October 7 attack should be examined “in context,” and comments in which she accused Israel of “apartheid” and “massacre.” Her employer, Radio France Internationale, condemned the decision, saying it was “an obstacle to press freedom.”

This morning, Froussard tried to enter Israel and return to work there on a regular basis under a work visa from RFI. After receiving the recommendation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, she was expelled and put on a flight back to France.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said, “Alice Froussard learned that we have changed the rules of the game, anyone who supports Hamas and the boycott movement against Israel will not be allowed to enter it.”

According to the ministry, Froussard is considered one of the most prominent voices in the French media reporting from the field on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to Radio France, the outlets that employed her included leading French broadcasters and newspapers such as Le Figaro, TV5Monde, and Mediapart, a news site known for its sharply critical line toward Israel.

Froussard had asked to return to work in the country on a permanent basis, but the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs said a review found a series of anti-Israel statements, including giving legitimacy to the October 7 massacre, referring to IDF activity in Gaza as a “massacre,” and accusing the State of Israel of apartheid. Among other things, she called Israel’s laws “draconian,” claimed that Israel’s legal system is dual and constitutes an example of “apartheid,” and said there was a growing “apartheid” in Judea and Samaria.

Froussard shared: “Recognition of Palestine without sanctions on Israel: Western whitewashing.”

The unusual decision came two days after France barred Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory and imposed sanctions together with Britain on figures “involved in financing, encouraging and carrying out violence in the West Bank.” France also barred entry to four senior officials in settler organizations and 21 violent settlers. Last month, Barrot announced a ban on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, amid the uproar over the humiliation of participants in the Gaza flotilla.

Minister Chikli said of the journalist’s expulsion, “Bon Voyage! As for the expected criticism from Macron and Jean-Noel Barrot, who gave Hamas recognition of a Palestinian state while our hostages were languishing in captivity, and who are imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers and civilians, you made this decision very easy.”