by EuroNews
It’s published
•update
The Dutch government plans to ban two far-right Israeli government ministers from travelling to the Netherlands in response to Israeli human rights abuses and the continued worsening situation in Gaza.
The measure targets Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gwil and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and is two major partners in the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ban and other sanctions were announced in a letter from Dutch Dutch Foreign Minister Casper Berdkamp, sent to lawmakers on Monday evening.
“They repeatedly incited settler violence against the Palestinian population and … sought ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip,” a letter reported by local media read.
The Dutch government will also summon Israeli ambassadors to urge Israeli ambassadors to “urge Netanyahu to take measures that will lead to a significant and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip.”
Ben Gwyr and Smotrich support Israeli reconciliation movements, in favour of continuing the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, promoting what is called Palestinian “voluntary immigration” and instead building Jewish settlements.
Both were rebelling against the announcement. Ben Gwyr said he would “continue to act,” and Smotrich claimed that European leaders were subjugated to “radical Islamic lies.”
Earlier this month, Slovenia banned Ben Gwyr and Smotric from entering the country in response to a lack of joint action carried out in Brussels by the EU foreign minister against Israel.
A similar move was made by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, which imposed financial sanctions on the two men last month.
The Dutch government, preparing for the October election, is facing pressure to change its stance on Israeli policy.
Additional sources •AP
