Israel removes the Netherlands from Gaza coordination headquarters over “anti-Israeli moves”

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in a statement Tuesday that he has decided to immediately expel Dutch representatives from the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel.

The center was established in October 2025 under the ceasefire agreement to coordinate stabilization and humanitarian relief efforts in the Gaza Strip.

Sa’ar noted that the decision, approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed a series of what he described as anti-Israeli moves by the Dutch government.

He added that the latest of them was the enactment of a law banning trade with Israeli products from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, which will take effect next month.

The Dutch representatives have been asked to leave Israel within a week, and a notice was sent to the Dutch embassy in Israel and the United States.

“Our message is clear: whoever acts against Israel will not have a foothold in the region,” Sa’ar said. “Israel will not allow steps against it without a response.”

In April, Israel announced the removal of Spanish representatives from the coordination center, citing Spain’s repeated “stand against Israel.”

COURYESY: Xinhua