The Netherlands has barred Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, citing incitement and extremist rhetoric about Gaza and the West Bank. The move comes amid mounting EU pressure on Israel to ease Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Valdekamp said both ministers have encouraged violence and called for ethnic cleansing. Israel’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Dutch ambassador in protest.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir responded by accusing Europe of antisemitism. “Even if I’m banned from all of Europe,” Ben Gvir said, “I’ll keep fighting for our people.”
More EU nations are reportedly considering similar bans and sanctions.
