Israel revokes Dutch diplomats’ status over sanctions on settlements

Israel escalates retaliatory measures as Western sanctions target illegal West Bank settlements.Published On 27 Sep 202627 Sep 2026Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats at the Netherlands’ ‌Representative Office in Ramallah, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has said.The countermeasure announced on Sunday comes in response to the Dutch government’s ban on ⁠imports originating ⁠from Israeli settlements in the ⁠occupied West Bank.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3One year on, the UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood is bearing fruitlist 2 of 3Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for war in occupied West Banklist 3 of 3Israel’s Smotrich calls for ‘war’ in West Bank: Rhetoric or real threat?end of listIn a statement posted on X, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gidoen Saar said, “If the Netherlands wishes to continue representing its interests with the Palestinians, it may do so from Palestinian Authority territory, rather than from the territory of the State of Israel.”Israel informed the Dutch embassy that “diplomats operating in Ramallah must return their Israeli-issued diplomatic documentation within seven days”.Saar said, “Last month, we removed the Dutc...