Netherlands bans entry to Israeli ministers Ben Gvir & Smotrich over alleged calls for Gaza ‘ethnic cleansing’

The Dutch government has declared Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich “personae non gratae,” banning them from entering the country, Dutch media reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper Algemeen Dagblad cited a letter by Foreign Minister Caspar Valdekamp to members of the parliament, in which he explained that the reason for the unusual move is that the ministers “have repeatedly incited violence by settlers against the Palestinian population and… called for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”

In addition, the Netherlands reportedly plans to summon the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign Ministry for a discussion of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben Gvir sharply criticized the decision, accusing the Dutch government of surrendering to Hamas’ demands.

The report followed a statement made by Prime Minister Dick Schoof after a meeting with senior ministers “about the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”

“The government’s goal is crystal clear: the people of Gaza must be given immediate, unfettered, safe access to humanitarian aid,” Schoof wrote on 𝕏.

“If the EU decides tomorrow that Israel is not in compliance with the relevant agreements on this, the Netherlands supports the plan to suspend Israeli participation in the EU research program Horizon,” he added.

Horizon is a scientific research initiative aiming to develop a “sustainable and livable society” in Europe, and has several associated non-EU members, including Israel, Canada, UK, Egypt and others.

The ministers also decided to transfer 1.5 million euros to the U.N. and 3 million euros to the Red Cross to support aid for the Gaza Strip.

If the EU decides that Israel is not complying with its aid requirements, Schoof added, he would “press for further European measures, for example in the realm of trade. We are also considering taking national measures to increase the pressure.”

Schoof also said that “Hamas must fully cooperate in ensuring access to humanitarian aid for the suffering population of Gaza,” adding that he conveyed this message in a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The Israeli president later criticized Schoof, claiming that the statement did “not reflect the spirit and details of the call.”

“Nor does it reflect my crystal clear position that it will be a HUGE mistake if EU takes such steps especially in light of Israel's ongoing and upgraded humanitarian efforts. I am especially saddened that the plight of our hostages and the demand for their immediate release are not even mentioned,” Herzog said in a statement.

The ban on two Israeli ministers also followed reports that the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) included Israel in a report of threatening states.

Ben Gvir wrote in response to his ban, “Even if I am banned from entering all of Europe, I will continue to work for our country and demand that we collapse Hamas and support our fighters.”

“Those who are violent, murderers, and rapists are our enemies, but as it is in Europe, whoever is attacked is guilty. In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcomed, a Jewish minister from Israel is not welcome; terrorists are free and Jews are boycotted.”

Smotrich responded to the ban by writing that Europeans don’t understand that “far more than it matters to me to enter the Netherlands, it matters to me that my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and those of all the Jews in the world, can live in the State of Israel in security for decades and centuries to come.”

Mentioning that Jews couldn’t live securely in Europe at the start of the century, Smotrich added, “Judging by the European hypocrisy, the surrender of its leaders to the lies of radical Islam that is taking over, and the rising antisemitism there – Jews will not be able to live there in security in the future either."