The Dutch government has announced measures against Israel, including a ban on entry into the entry into the entry into Netherlands to two far -right Israeli government ministers but also stricter restrictions on arms exports to Israel.
Due to the “unbearable and unjustified” situation in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldab said in a letter to Parliament that there would be various sanctions from the Netherlands to Israel.
Israeli ministers Ithamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotric will no longer be able to enter the Dutch territoryas they are accused of repeatedly motivated violence against Palestinians.
The two ministers are now considered “unwanted people” in the Netherlands as they have called for the expansion of Jewish settlements to Palestinian territories and have called on “ethnic cleansing” in the Gaza Strip.
The Netherlands Foreign Minister, of course, Caspar Veldabab, has called on the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to tell him to change the course in Gaza and comply with his obligations under international humanitarian law.
At the same time they were announced stricter restrictions on arms exports to Israel. Some of the already existing contracts will be revised given the situation, while the signing of new ones “is almost out of discussion”, as he underlined.
At the same time the Netherlands will increase her contribution to humanitarian aid to Gaza offering an additional 1.5m euros in UN service and € 3m to the Red Cross.
The Dutch government’s government agreed to these measures yesterday, Monday (28.7.2025), during an extraordinary meeting by Prime Minister Dick Schoff with Veldab, Defense Minister Ruben Breklmans and the Vice -Presidents of the Government.
After meeting Dick Schoff said his country is ready to support EU proposal Limit Israel’s involvement in the European Horizon Research Financing Program, as Brussels concludes that Israel does not comply with its commitments regarding Gaza’s humanitarian aid access.
Today I had an additional meeting with the deputy prime ministers, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence about the catastrophic situation in Gaza.
The government’s goal is crystal clear: the people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to…
– Dick Schoof (@minpres) July 28, 2025
“The Netherlands will push for additional European measures, for example in the field of trade,” he added.
Dick Schoff noted that he had informed Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the Dutch measures with him writing a little later in X that the Netherlands’ decisions are a “huge mistake”, mainly given “his continued and improved humanitarian efforts”.
Sorry Prime Minister, with all due respect- this tweet does not reflect the spirit and details of the call. Nor does it reflect my crystal clear position that it will be a HUGE mistake if EU takes such steps especially in light of Israel’s ongoing and upgraded humanitarian…
– Isaac Herzog (@isaac_Herzog) July 28, 2025
Indeed he mentions that he is very saddened With the fact that the dire situation of the Israeli hostages and the demand for their immediate release are not even mentioned.