The two Dutch nationals must leave within a week. One is attached to the Dutch embassy in Tel Aviv, the other to the Dutch office in Ramallah. Both worked at the international Gaza Support Center in Kirjat Gat, which is involved in international efforts regarding Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar presents the expulsion as a response to a series of Dutch measures that Israel considers “anti-Israel.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the measure. Both the Netherlands and the United States have been informed of the decision.
Import Boycott
One concrete trigger is a Dutch trade measure against the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements. The Netherlands does not intend to reverse this measure because of the expulsion. Minister Tom Berendsen has expressed regret over the expulsion to his Israeli counterpart and called it unnecessary.
Promotion
In addition, there is a Dutch-Israeli conflict regarding the West Bank. The Netherlands has spoken out against a controversial Israeli construction project near East Jerusalem and against further steps to implement that project. The diplomatic confrontation thus plays out simultaneously on several fronts.
Song Festival
Outside direct diplomatic relations, the clash with Israel is also growing. The public broadcaster association AvroTros has decided that the Netherlands will again not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster links this decision to the war and humanitarian situation in Gaza and to Israel’s participation.
This will be the second consecutive year that the Netherlands stays away. In 2026, the Netherlands boycotted the festival together with Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia because of Israel’s participation. This led to the largest political boycott in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
According to Avrotros director Taco Zimmerman, international conflicts increasingly influence the festival and undermine its neutral character. As a result, Eurovision has become a platform for division. The Dutch broadcaster believes that under the current circumstances, the event can no longer be considered neutral.