The Netherlands has declared two Israeli ministers – Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – persona non grata for inciting violence and calling for ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

"They have repeatedly incited violence by settlers against Palestinians, encouraged the illegal expansion of settler colonies, and called for ethnic cleansing in Gaza," said Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Wildkamp in a letter to parliament published on the evening of July 28.

In June, the Netherlands supported Sweden's proposal to impose EU sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers, but the initiative did not receive unanimous support in the EU Foreign Affairs Council, AFP reported.

Smotrich wrote in a post on X that European leaders had succumbed to "the lies of radical Islam taking control" and "growing anti-Semitism."

Ben-Gvir said he would continue to act in Israel's interests, even if he were banned from "all of Europe." .

"In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcome, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwelcome, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted," he wrote.

Wildkamp said the Netherlands wants to "alleviate the suffering of the population in Gaza" and is exploring additional ways to contribute to humanitarian aid.

"Dropping food from the air is relatively expensive and risky. That is why the Netherlands is also taking measures to further support aid deliveries by land," he said.

The dropping of aid shipments into Gaza resumed on July 27 after Israel announced temporary humanitarian pauses in parts of the besieged territory.

Some 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing what UN humanitarian agencies warn is a deadly wave of hunger and malnutrition.

The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Initiative reported that hunger is spreading across much of Gaza, thresholds have been crossed, and more than 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition since April.

Wildkamp said the Netherlands would insist on suspending the trade part of the EU-Israel Association Agreement if Israel did not fulfill its humanitarian obligations.

"The summons will also be used to remind Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," he stressed.

After a telephone conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof said the government's position was "crystal clear."

"The population of Gaza must be given immediate, unrestricted, and safe access to humanitarian aid," he said. | BGNES