Israeli authorities denied entry to French journalist Alice Froussard at Tel Aviv airport Wednesday afternoon and deported her back to France on a flight Thursday morning [1, 2, 3]. Froussard, who covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for French public broadcasters including Radio France Internationale (RFI), Radio France, and France Culture, had arrived with the required travel authorization and applied for a press visa to work in the West Bank but was refused entry without official justification [1, 2, 3].
Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, announced the deportation and accused Froussard of supporting Hamas. Chikli described her as "the pro-Hamas French journalist who believes the Oct. 7 massacre should be viewed in context," saying he was "pleased to announce" her departure from Ben Gurion Airport on her way back to Paris [2].
The Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed investigators found Froussard had made statements hostile to Israel, including calling Israeli military actions in Gaza a massacre, accusing Israel of apartheid, and allegedly justifying the October 7, 2023 events [2]. However, Israeli authorities did not provide clear justification to RFI, whose management called the expulsion "an obstruction of press freedom" and fully supported Froussard [1].
Froussard has lived and worked for years in Jerusalem and Ramallah, contributing to multiple French media outlets, including Radio France Internationale, France Culture, Le Figaro, TV5 Monde, and Mediapart [2]. The French Embassy in Israel expressed strong dissatisfaction with the deportation decision [2].
This deportation occurred shortly after France announced a ban on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich entering France, sparking speculation that Froussard's removal was retaliatory [3]. Israel has recently barred and deported several foreign journalists and activists critical of its policies [2].
Froussard was denied entry on June 10 afternoon and stayed overnight at the airport before boarding a deportation flight back to France on June 11 morning [1, 2, 3].
