Israel is giving Melenchon a campaign boost by banning him from the country.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar banned the leader of France Unbowed, Jean-Luc Melenchon, and the chairman of the party's parliamentary group, Mathilde Fano, from entering Israel. Mélenchon is a candidate in the French presidential elections in 2027.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry pointed to France's "extreme anti-Israel policy" and claims that the two spread "blood conspiracies against Israel". It also called on Melenchon to "send French ships to escort the illegal flotillas to Gaza." "In a speech on Saturday, Melanchon said that if elected, France would "act directly in support of the Palestinians" in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Melanchon replied that he could not be disappointed because he never asked to go: "They forbid me to enter a territory that I did not ask to enter. ".