West Bank settlements

Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch officials in retaliation for Western sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The move escalates a growing dispute between Israel and European governments over settlement policy, and observers say it signals a hardening of Israel's response to international pressure over its occupation policies.

The United Nations has expanded its list of companies with business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, adding firms to bring the total to 138. The database, maintained by the UN Human Rights Council, is intended to press companies to end activities linked to settlements, which most of the international community considers illegal. Israel rejects the blacklist, calling it politically motivated, while human rights groups welcomed the expansion.

Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats in response to Dutch sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move marks an escalation between the two governments, with the Netherlands having imposed measures targeting settlement-linked entities. The step is expected to strain diplomatic relations further as European scrutiny of settlement policy grows.