Israeli passengers stopped, searched at Dutch airport as West Bank import crackdown begins
The Netherlands began enforcing its ban on the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with Israeli travelers reporting thorough bag searches at Dutch airports.
The Netherlands has launched a robust crackdown on importing goods from Israeli settlements, with Schiphol Airport becoming the epicenter of stringent bag checks for passengers. Since September 22, 2026, the ban extends to all imported items, including personal luggage and souvenirs for travelers. Those who tamper with origin labels face penalties, with the law's effective date retroactively applying to pre-ban purchases as well.
Violations can lead to imprisonment for up to six years, while unintentional breaches may result in a one-year sentence.
A day after the ban took effect, travelers arriving in Schiphol from Tel Aviv found themselves subjected to intensive scrutiny as they passed through customs. Customs officers questioned all El Al passengers, prompting them to gather for a thorough search of their luggage. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee has been tasked with conducting additional checks on passengers arriving from Israel, specifically targeting items such as wine, dates, and olives from East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Golan Heights.
Prohibited goods are now prominently displayed. Dutch customs declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Jerusalem Post.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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