AMSTERDAM, July 29, 2025 (WAFA) – The Dutch government announced an entry ban on Israeli National Security and Finance Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in light of the Israeli government's extremist policies.

Dutch Foreign Minister Henk Waldwamp said Monday evening that his government had decided to declare the two ministers "persona non grata," explaining that their names had been registered in the Schengen Area as "unwelcome foreigners."

He explained that the decision was taken due to "their repeated incitement of colonist' violence against Palestinians, their continued support for the expansion of illegal colonies, and their calls for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip" as part of Israel's war of extermination against the Strip.

Israeli Ambassador to The Hague, Modi Ephraim, is expected to be summoned to a formal reprimand session at the Dutch Foreign Ministry, where, according to Waldwamp, "Israel will be again called upon to change its policy direction," noting that "the current situation is untenable and untenable," while emphasizing "continued pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza."

This position comes amid growing European indications of action against ongoing Israeli violations, particularly with the Netherlands, of a recommendation to freeze Israel's participation in the European research program Horizon and impose additional trade restrictions on it if, according to Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoeff, it is proven that "Israel is not fulfilling its obligations in this regard."

Schooeff had tweeted that "the Netherlands will support the EU plan to suspend Israel's participation in the Horizon program if it is found to be not respecting the relevant agreements," indicating the possibility of supporting "additional European steps in areas such as trade."

K.T