Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp has resigned after a cabinet meeting failed to secure sanctions against Israel, further weakening the country’s fragile caretaker government. His resignation comes amid mounting pressure from critics and protesters who demand action against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Netherlands joined 20 other countries in signing a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israeli plans to build an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. However, the cabinet debate reached an impasse over adopting harsher measures against Israel. Veldkamp cited his inability to take meaningful additional measures and blamed the “alarming situation” in Gaza.
The decision comes after weeks of protests in the Netherlands, with hundreds of thousands taking part in demonstrations in June. Experts from the UN have warned that Gaza City is facing an “entirely man-made” famine, which could lead to exponential increases in deaths.
Veldkamp’s resignation marks a significant blow to the caretaker administration, which has been running the country since June when the coalition government collapsed. The Netherlands is now set to hold early elections on October 29.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/23/netherlands-foreign-minister-sanctions-israel-gaza