Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats serving at the Netherlands’ representative office in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, in retaliation for a Dutch ban on goods from Israeli settlements. The move is the latest sign of strain between Israel and several European allies over settlement policy.
Israel’s decision
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the Israel Dutch diplomats decision meant staff in Ramallah must return their Israeli-issued diplomatic documents within seven days. “If the Netherlands wishes to continue representing its interests with the Palestinians, it may do so from Palestinian Authority territory,” he wrote on X. Israel had earlier removed the Dutch delegation from a Gaza support centre in Kiryat Gat.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the step “unnecessary” and said the Netherlands was considering its response. He said the measures were not aimed at Israel but reflected an obligation not to contribute to the unlawful situation of the settlements.
What the Dutch ban covers
The Netherlands brought its ban into force on 22 September. It prohibits the import, purchase and sale of goods from settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, along with services that facilitate that trade. Dutch customs have begun checking luggage on some flights from Israel. Trade between the two countries was about $4.8 billion last year, and legal group Global Echo says the Netherlands handles roughly a third of settlement agricultural exports.
A widening diplomatic rift
Israel has taken countermeasures against the United Kingdom, France and Canada over similar sanctions. The dispute follows a walkout by delegates during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address last week, the same session where India set out its position in Jaishankar’s UNGA speech. More detail is available from Al Jazeera.
Today’s News 28 Sep 2026 · 10 stories
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