Israel strips Dutch diplomats of status over settlement trade ban

Israel has stripped Dutch diplomats working in the West Bank of their diplomatic status, citing the Netherlands' ban on trade with Israeli settlements. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Dutch diplomats in Ramallah must surrender their Israeli credentials within seven days, after which their privileges and immunities will expire.

The Dutch government maintains that their trade restrictions only affect goods originating from Israeli settlements, not those produced within Israel's internationally recognized borders. Israel's move is seen as retaliation for Dutch policies, and the country has previously removed its representatives from an international Gaza support center in Kiryat Gat.

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions over Israeli settlement policy and the broader Western pressure on Israel's actions in the West Bank.

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