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As more information surfaces it looks to me the NL carry the least blame.

It is the EFL that is banning Gateshead and not banning Halifax
It is the council and the club that is unable to reach a solution over the tenancy
It is the council that owns Halifax’s stadium not the NL
The NL seems to have fought Gateshead’s corner. The only other solution was to announce 8th place to compete in the playoffs and you can guarantee that would have had people moaning.

Lots of valid complaints about the NL but this episode probably isn’t one of them

Edit
Just checked the NL rules
APPENDIX B
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS SEASON 2023/24 COMPETITION RULES
1. At the end of the season, the Clubs who finish in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th& 7th at the end of the Playing Season in accordance with Membership Rule 12 and meet the Qualification Criteria for The Football League as at 1st March and meet the Criteria for Admission to Full Membership of the Football Conference Limited shall be eligible to enter the end of season National League Play-Offs Competition “Competition”.
If a Club is not eligible to enter the Competition then it shall not take part in any play-off matches. In that event such Club shall not be replaced and the Competition structure and draw shall be adjusted as necessary by the Board on the basis of the remaining Clubs’ final league positions.

Therefore the NL followed their rules to the letter

What would be the point of Gateshead competing next season knowing they cannot be promoted? What an awful situation for them. 

Didn't Brighton play at Gillingham a few years ago for a few months?

They were already in the league though, Coventry have played at Northampton and Birmingham in recent seasons as well. One thing kicking current clubs out of the league compared to rules for new member teams coming in.

Was it a ‘clear and obvious error’? That’s what we were told it was being brought in for.

It certainly has its pros and cons and I’m not entirely against it, it’s the way it’s been brought in with no consultation with all the clubs who take part offered a chance to have their say and, as usual, no consideration to the fans thoughts.
You’d have thought the big clubs at the table would have learnt their lesson of fan power with the reaction to the ESL that was nearly brought in a cpl of years back. Then again I guess not!