Israel Expels Dutch Representatives From Gaza Support Centre Over ‘Anti-Israel’ Moves
Israel Expels Dutch Representatives From Gaza Support Centre Over ‘Anti-Israel’ Moves
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, announced the decision, saying the representatives would be expelled immediately following what he described as growing hostile actions by the Netherlands against Israel.
Israel has ordered representatives of the Netherlands to leave the International Support Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, accusing the Dutch government of pursuing a series of anti-Israel measures.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, announced the decision, saying the representatives would be expelled immediately following what he described as growing hostile actions by the Netherlands against Israel.
“Representatives of the Netherlands will be expelled immediately from the International Support Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat,” Sa’ar said in a post on X.
“I decided so today, with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu, following a series of anti-Israel moves by the Dutch government. The latest of which was the enactment of a law prohibiting trade with Israeli products from Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, which will take effect next month.”
According to Sa’ar, a formal notification of the decision was delivered to the Dutch Embassy in Israel on Tuesday evening, while the United States was also informed.
“A notice to this effect was delivered this evening to the Dutch Embassy in Israel and, of course, also to our American friends,” he said.
The Dutch representatives have been given one week to leave Israel.
The expulsion comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Israel and the Netherlands over Israeli settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Dutch government’s increasingly critical position on Israel’s actions.
Sa’ar also accused the Netherlands of allowing an “unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts” to accompany its government’s policy towards Israel.
He warned that Israel would respond to actions it considers hostile, stressing that countries opposing Israeli policies would not be allowed to maintain what he described as a foothold in the region.
“Our message is clear: Whoever acts against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow steps against it without a response,” Sa’ar said.
The latest diplomatic confrontation follows a joint statement issued last Friday by the Netherlands and six other governments condemning Israel’s decision to open bidding for a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten joined the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Norway in calling on the Netanyahu regime to withdraw the plans immediately.
In their joint statement, the seven governments described the settlement project as “unacceptable” and said they had “grave concerns” about its possible impact on efforts to achieve peace in the region.
The governments also pointed to what they described as “unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians.”
The dispute centres on Israel’s plans for the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, where Israeli authorities are advancing a major settlement construction programme.
Israel’s construction and housing ministry opened bidding on Tuesday for 1,234 homes, forming part of a wider plan for 3,401 settler homes in the area.
Contractors have until October 19 to submit bids for the project, a deadline that falls one week before Israeli elections.
The E1 settlement plan has long been a major source of international concern because of its strategic location between Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Critics argue that extensive settlement construction in the area could further complicate the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state and undermine prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.
