Dutch customs intensify checks on Israel-bound travelers after new territorial boycott

Following the Netherlands’ recent ban on products originating in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, Dutch customs began conducting additional inspections of passengers arriving from Israel at Schiphol Airport. Sivan Behr, traveling on an El Al flight, described how officials directed everyone, including those in the “Nothing to Declare” lane, to undergo baggage screening, citing routine intercontinental procedures despite her prior experiences.

When passengers questioned the process, a customs officer responded with profanity in English and ordered them to line up. She also noted that a military police unit was deployed to identify prohibited items such as wine, dates and olives, and that signage warned travelers of possible sanctions. The episode sparked concerns among Dutch Jews and prompted remarks from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee about the severity of penalties for souvenir violations. Observers wonder whether similar scrutiny applies to travelers from other nations under Dutch or EU sanctions, such as Russia.