The Netherlands has declared Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir persona non grata, barring them from entry over their calls for “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza.
In June, the Netherlands backed a failed Swedish proposal to impose EU sanctions on Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir.
"They repeatedly incited settler violence against Palestinians, promoted illegal settlement expansion, and called for ethnic cleansing in Gaza," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told parliament in a letter released late Monday.
Smotrich responded on X, saying European leaders had succumbed to "the lies of radical Islam that is taking over" and "rising antisemitism."
Ben-Gvir said he would continue to act for Israel, even if he was banned from entering "all of Europe."
"In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcomed, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted," he wrote on X.
Veldkamp said the Netherlands wanted to "relieve the suffering of the population in Gaza" and was exploring further ways to contribute to humanitarian aid.
"Airdrops of food are relatively expensive and risky," he said.
"This is why the Netherlands is also taking steps to further support land-based aid delivery."
The government will also summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to urge Netanyahu to change course and "immediately take measures that lead to a substantial and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip," Veldkamp wrote.
Veldkamp said the Netherlands would push to suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement if Israel fails to meet its humanitarian obligations.
"The summons will also be used to remind Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," he said.
After speaking by phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the government's position was "crystal clear."
"The people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid," he said.
