The two ministers are accused of inciting violence against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. They lead two extreme right-wing parties, "Jewish Power" and "Religious Zionism," and encourage the genocide of Palestinians.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced on Wednesday that the Netherlands has decided to ban Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from entering the 29-nation Schengen Area, which includes Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Netherlands itself.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries, while the European Union comprises 27. The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 and entered into force in 1995, abolished border controls between these countries to provide broad freedom of movement.
The commission added that outgoing Dutch Foreign Minister Casper Waldkamp explained that the decision came as a result of repeated statements by the two ministers inciting violence against Palestinians, encouraging the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and justifying actions described as "ethnic cleansing" in the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations states that settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and undermines the principle of the two-state solution, and has called for its cessation for decades to no avail.
The Netherlands confirmed that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich were placed on the "Persona Non Grata" list, barring them from entering the European Union.
The Broadcasting Corporation noted that the Dutch action reflects the growing diplomatic isolation of the two ministers and the escalating tension between Israel and Western countries. It also reflects a growing trend in Europe to confront Israeli figures considered extremist in their policies toward Gaza and settlements. This decision also follows a series of similar measures taken by other countries in recent months.
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Spain announced on Tuesday that it was banning Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from entering the country, after recalling its ambassador from Israel for consultations. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv accused Madrid of "anti-Semitism" and decided to bar two Spanish ministers from entering Israel.
This came in response to a package of sanctions announced by Spain, which included an arms embargo and a ban on ships and aircraft bound for Israel for military purposes, as part of efforts to halt the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for nearly two years.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 64,605 Palestinians, the injury of 163,319, most of them women and children, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons, and a famine that has killed 404 Palestinians, including 141 children.
Last July, Slovenia became the first European country to designate Ben-Gvir and Smotrich as persona non grata, followed by other countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, which imposed similar sanctions.
The European Union is also discussing broader action against Israeli officials who have supported policies related to Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Coinciding with the aggression on Gaza, the Israeli occupation army and settlers escalated their attacks in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,020 Palestinians, the injury of approximately 7,000 others, and the arrest of more than 19,000, according to Palestinian sources.
For decades, Israel has occupied Palestinian territories, as well as lands in Syria and Lebanon, and refuses to withdraw from them or establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the pre-1967 borders.
