Netherlands bans Israeli ministers, urges EU sanctions over Gaza

The Dutch government has barred two of Israel’s far-right ministers from entering the country, citing their incitement of violence and support for ethnic cleansing.

“[National Security Minister] Itamar Ben Gvir and [Finance Minister] Bezalel Smotrich are no longer welcome here,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced late on Monday.

The Netherlands formally declared both men as persona non grata and pledged to enter their names into the Schengen Area’s registry of undesirable individuals.

Defending the move in parliament, Veldkamp said the pair had “repeatedly incited violence against the Palestinian population, persistently advocated for the expansion of illegal settlements, and called for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”

“These actions and statements are beyond justification,” he added.

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