Tensions are rising between the Netherlands and Israel. Israeli far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are no longer welcome in the Netherlands.
In fact, they’ve been officially labelled unwanted foreigners. Their support for illegal settlements and inflammatory rhetoric against Palestinians has led the cabinet to issue an entry ban against the ministers.
According to the NOS, the cabinet has also summoned the Israeli ambassador. Schoof will press Israel to change course and respect international humanitarian law.
In a letter to the House of Representatives Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp has called the situation in Gaza “unbearable and indefensible.”
Arms exports frozen, aid flows in
Dutch arms exports to Israel are now heavily restricted.
The NOS reports that since October 7, 2023, the Netherlands has rejected 11 export permits for military and dual-use goods, with only two exceptions via Germany, for parts of the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system.
Minister Veldkamp writes in his letter that it’s “almost impossible” that any new permits for use in Gaza or the West Bank will be approved.
READ MORE | Here’s how you can help Gaza from the Netherlands
The minister also writes that the Netherlands is boosting aid to Gaza, contributing €1.5 million to the UN and €3 million to the Red Cross, with a focus on land-based supply routes.
Pause trade with Israel
Prime Minister Schoof, his deputies, and ministers Ruben Brekelmans of defence and Veldkamp of foreign affairs gathered to sharpen their response and make it clear: this isn’t business as usual.
It’s not just national policy getting a hard look — the Netherlands is also eyeing EU-level action.
Specifically, unless the European Commission finds that Israel is in full compliance with its humanitarian obligations, the Netherlands wants to hit pause on trade established by the EU-Israel association agreement.
Israel’s response? Not impressed
Israeli President Isaac Herzog didn’t take the news lightly.
After the Prime Minister spoke on the phone with Herzog, he then called the Dutch moves an “enormous mistake” and pushed back hard against PM Schoof’s version of their phone call.
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.
— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) July 28, 2025
The government’s goal is crystal clear: the people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to…
Especially the fact that Dutch concerns about hostages held by Hamas were, according to Herzog, not properly acknowledged.
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…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) July 28, 2025
The cabinet, it seems, has decided it’s time to move from diplomatic murmurs to firmer action.
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