Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Over Lack of Support on Gaza Sanctions Issue

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has resigned after failing to secure government support for imposing additional sanctions over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

On Friday (22 August), the centre-right New Social Contract (NSC) party leader announced that he could not align with the cabinet on taking what he termed as “meaningful action” against Israel. He also revealed that he faced resistance from colleagues regarding some of the sanctions that had already been imposed.

Previously, Veldkamp had introduced visa restrictions on hardline Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who stand accused of inciting settler violence against Palestinians. Additionally, citing concerns over Gaza’s humanitarian situation and the risk of “improper use”, he had cancelled three export permits for naval vessel components.

Speaking to journalists, Caspar Veldkamp said, “What is happening in Gaza, the attacks on Gaza City, the settlement expansion in the West Bank, and developments in East Jerusalem—these are all things I am witnessing.”

Following Veldkamp’s resignation, all ministers and state secretaries from his party, the New Social Contract, also withdrew from the caretaker government in a show of solidarity. This has effectively left the Netherlands without a functioning foreign minister.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Veldkamp had been under increasing pressure in parliament from opposition parties who were demanding stronger sanctions against Israel.