Sa’ar boots Dutch from US-backed Gaza coordination center over ‘anti-Israel measures’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Tuesday that Dutch representatives will be expelled from the US-backed international coordination center for Gaza in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, citing a series of “anti-Israel measures” by the Netherlands.

“Representatives of the Netherlands will be expelled immediately from the International Gaza Aid Center in Kiryat Gat. I made this decision today, with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu, following a series of anti-Israel measures taken by the Dutch government,” Sa’ar wrote on X.

He cited as the latest example the Netherlands’ July decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, beginning September 22.

“Notice of this decision was delivered this evening to the Dutch Embassy in Israel and, of course, also to our American friends. The Dutch representatives have been instructed to leave Israel within one week,” Sa’ar added.

The Netherlands has taken a series of steps against Israel in the wake of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and subsequent Gaza war, including barring far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, restricting arms exports to Israel and backing increased European pressure over Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

“The Dutch government’s anti-Israel policy has been accompanied by an unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts in the Netherlands. 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,” the minister said.

There was no immediate public response to the move by the Dutch authorities.

The Kiryat Gat center was originally established as the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, housing international representatives tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, facilitating aid deliveries and developing postwar policy for the Strip.

It has since been overhauled and rebranded as the International Gaza Aid Center. It was not immediately clear how many Dutch representatives are currently stationed there or what roles they hold.

Sa’ar took a similar decision in April, banning Spanish representatives from the Kiryat Gat base over what he said was Madrid’s “anti-Israel obsession.”

Israel has found itself increasingly at odds with Western and Arab countries over its conduct in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria and Lebanon.