In a statement issued Monday, Milanovic said Israeli diplomat Nissan Amdur “has not received, nor will receive” presidential approval to serve as ambassador in Zagreb.

Amdur was nominated in November to replace Israel’s current envoy to Croatia and is expected to arrive at the end of May in the capacity of chargé d’affaires, a diplomatic role that does not require formal presidential consent, according to Israeli media reports.

“Granting or withholding approval for proposed ambassadors is the sovereign right of the Republic of Croatia,” Milanovic said, while also accusing Israel of violating diplomatic convention by publicly announcing the nominee before Croatian approval had been secured.

The dispute reflects widening divisions within Croatia’s political leadership over the Gaza conflict. Milanovic, a left-leaning president known for outspoken criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza, has repeatedly condemned the scale of civilian casualties since the outbreak of the war in October 2023.

Croatia’s conservative government has adopted a more supportive stance toward Israel and strongly condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the conflict.

Although Croatia’s president holds largely ceremonial powers, the office retains constitutional authority over the confirmation of foreign ambassadors.

The diplomatic disagreement comes amid continued international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 72,000 people have been killed in the territory since the start of the conflict, with the United Nations and international agencies warning of worsening humanitarian conditions.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October, violence has persisted in Gaza, with Israeli forces and Hamas accusing each other of repeated violations of the truce.