Netherlands Pushes Schengen-Wide Ban on Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich
Netherlands Pushes Schengen-Wide Ban on Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich
September 15, 2025 – The Hague
The Netherlands has initiated a Schengen-wide entry ban on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, effectively barring them from entering any of the 29 countries in the Schengen zone starting September 10, 2025. The move was first reported by Israeli outlet Ynet and later confirmed during a parliamentary session in The Hague.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp informed lawmakers of the decision during a debate focused on the Gaza conflict and prospects for a two-state solution. The action follows earlier Dutch national travel bans imposed on the two far-right Israeli ministers over concerns about incitement.
How the Ban Works
Under the Schengen framework, member states can activate an “alert for refusal of entry or stay” in the Schengen Information System (SIS) under Article 24. Once issued, these alerts prompt all Schengen states to deny entry to the listed individuals, making the ban effectively multilateral.
A Broader Diplomatic Message
This development marks an escalation in European scrutiny of Israeli officials amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The Netherlands’ decision aligns with a wider European trend of using visa and travel restrictions as tools of diplomatic signaling.
Earlier this year, Israel revoked visas for several French officials following critical statements about its military operations—an episode that underscored the growing use of travel access as political leverage.
As debates continue within the EU over the use of visa policies in foreign relations, the case of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich highlights how questions of mobility and entry rights are increasingly shaping Europe’s external diplomacy.
Source- SchengenVisaInfo
