Israeli Foreign Ministry summons Dutch envoy

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar summoned Dutch Ambassador to Israel Marriet Schuurman for a reprimand at the ministry in Jerusalem over a series of measures the kingdom is pursuing against Israel over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

“The conversation will take place in light of the Dutch government’s decisions to take measures against Israel, including against its right to self-defense and against ministers in its government,” says Sa’ar’s office.

Yesterday, The Netherlands banned far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country. The Dutch government will also summon Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Modi Ephraim, to denounce the “unbearable and indefensible” situation in Gaza.

The ban on Smotrich and Ben Gvir came after Prime Minister Dick Schoof threatened to support sanctions on Israel if Gazans do not get greater access to aid, a message he said he conveyed to President Isaac Herzog in a phone call.

“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,” Schoof posted on X. “If that proves to be the case, tomorrow in Brussels the Netherlands will also press for further European measures, for example in the realm of trade.”