THE HAGUE, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen summoned the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands on Monday over Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats based in Ramallah, Dutch media reported.
According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, Berendsen summoned the ambassador to seek an explanation for the decision, which affects several staff members of the Dutch mission in Ramallah.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Sunday that Israel would revoke the diplomatic privileges and immunities of Dutch diplomats based in Ramallah, in response to a Dutch ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. He said on social media platform X that the diplomats had seven days to return their Israeli-issued diplomatic documents.
Berendsen reiterated on earlier Monday that he considered Israel's decision "unnecessary".
The Dutch government announced on July 21 that, effective Sept. 22, 2026, a national ban would apply to the import, purchase and sale of goods originating from Israeli settlements deemed unlawful in the Palestinian territories. Circumvention of the measures is also prohibited.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law. ■
