Israel has given Dutch representatives at the International Support Center in Kiryat Gat, established to monitor the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, one week to leave the country. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Tuesday that the Dutch representatives had been removed from the center.
Saar said the decision was taken at the request of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli foreign minister said the move followed the Netherlands’ new trade regulation concerning products from Israeli settlements.
The Netherlands’ decision to ban settlement products
At the end of July, the Dutch government decided to ban the import, purchase and sale of products from Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories. The regulation is scheduled to enter into force on September 22, 2026.
The Israeli foreign minister announced that the Netherlands’ embassy in Israel and U.S. officials were informed of the decision on Tuesday evening. Dutch authorities did not immediately comment on the decision.
Center monitoring the Gaza ceasefire
The center, established by U.S. Central Command in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel, operates to oversee the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and monitor the U.S. peace plan. Its responsibilities also include facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries and planning for the postwar period.
The initiative, also known as the Civil-Military Coordination Center, involves 40 countries and organizations. In addition to monitoring the ceasefire, the center is working on preparations for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Road map for Gaza
The Board of Peace published a road map on July 31, 2026, aimed at completing the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s comprehensive peace plan for Gaza. The document outlined steps for the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas.
The road map also proposed transferring the administration of Gaza to a committee of Palestinian technocrats and deploying an international stabilization force. The document additionally called for weapons to be placed under the authority of a national committee that would govern the territory under international supervision, and for reconstruction efforts to continue.
Saar described the Dutch government’s policy as anti-Israeli and made several accusations concerning that policy.
According to Palestinian figures, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 174,000 people injured in the conflict in Gaza since October 8, 2023. Women and children account for a significant proportion of the reported toll.
