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Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berndsen expressed deep regret on Monday over Israel's decision to withdraw the accreditation of Dutch diplomats working in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as 'unnecessary'.
A spokesperson for Berndsen quoted him as saying: 'I am deeply sorry for this unnecessary decision', clarifying that the Netherlands' decision to suspend the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank 'is not aimed at Israel'.
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Israel would withdraw the accreditation of Dutch diplomats working in the West Bank within seven days, in response to the Netherlands' decision to ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements.
Saar said the Dutch decision, which was announced in July and came into effect last week, requires Dutch diplomats working in Ramallah to return their credentials within seven days, after which their diplomatic privileges and immunities will expire.
The Dutch government had announced a ban on the import, purchase, and sale of products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as of September 22.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said the measures are intended to fulfill the Netherlands' obligations under international law and to avoid contributing to the continuation of the status quo in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
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