Israel expels Dutch officials from Gaza coordination centre over settlement boycott

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday ordered the immediate expulsion of Dutch representatives from the International Support Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, following a recommendation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The move came in response to what Israel described as a series of anti-Israel measures by the Dutch government, the latest being a law banning trade in Israeli products from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The law is due to take effect next month.

Sa’ar said: “Our message is clear: Those who act against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow measures to be taken against it without a response.” 

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The Netherlands has also joined several countries in opposing Israeli settlement construction in the E1 area. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Norway issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli government’s decision to invite tenders for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 area, located between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.

The seven countries called on Israel to “retract the plans immediately” and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. 

“The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable,” the statement said.

The seven countries said the international community had long opposed construction in the area for years and had repeatedly expressed its deep concern to Israel, both publicly and privately.

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